Blue Bulls president Willem Strauss says Victor Matfield took a ‘personal decision’ to turn down the opportunity to coach the Super Rugby side.

Matfield was heavily favoured to replace John Mitchell as head coach after a thorough process resulted in a three-man shortlist, including the former Bulls and Bok lock, Currie Cup coach Pote Human and Kings coach Deon Davids. However, in a surprise twist, Human, who has been involved with the union since 2005, was announced on Tuesday as the Super Rugby coach.

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Speaking to the media at Loftus, Strauss said Matfield had told him that the high-risk coaching environment led him to the decision to stay in his current role as a SuperSport pundit.

‘It is difficult because he is not here to answer. What he informed me is that what it comes down to is the insecurity of being a coach. You can ask why he went through the whole process, but it is tough to be a coach. It is a high-risk environment, we all know that.

‘But if I can summarise, it came down to that. Maybe when he looked at the high-risk situation, maybe he thought he is better off where he is now in terms of security and for his family. But it was a personal decision he took.’

Strauss said that keeping Human on as part of the coaching structure was always part of the plan and they will begin negotiations around a potential new deal for him soon.

‘Pote was always going to be part of the structures,’ Strauss said. Although it is a huge surprise, it is not that big of a surprise that he is still part of the setup.

‘We did not give him a one-year contract. He is still on a contract until the end of next year. It was not like he was given a one-year extension. We appointed him yesterday, so give us a bit of time to get it started.’

SA Rugby director of rugby Rassie Erasmus will assist the side throughout the campaign, but Strauss was still unclear about his day-to-day role with the union.

‘I don’t want to speak on behalf of him or SA Rugby. Pote is meeting with him tomorrow. We will have more clarity [after that]. He will be here from 3 January in his capacity as director of rugby to help upskill, which is his job. Once Pote has met with him we will have more clarity on his day-to-day situation.’

Photo: Johan Rynners/Gallo Images