Breaking News: Springbok to follow Rassie Erasmus’ footsteps into the coaching box – report
Ruan Pienaar, a former back for the Springboks, may take Rassie Erasmus’ professional path when his playing days draw to an end.
Pienaar extended his career into the age of 40 by signing a contract extension with the Cheetahs last July.
The 88-Test ceiling For a long time, Springbok was expected to take on a coaching role after hanging up his boots. Actually, Ulster was excited for him to make the move to the Irish province both in 2017 and in 2019 when he left Montpellier, a French team.
He chose to prolong his playing career, though, and it appears like he will retire at the conclusion of the 2023–2024 campaign.
Cheetahs job awaits
The Cheetahs verified to the Afrikaans publication Rapport last week that Pienaar was being considered for a coaching position inside the team’s organizational frameworks.
The key decision-makers, according to the article, now think he may take over as head coach right away.
Boland allegedly made Hawies Fourie, the current head coach, an offer to take over as their coach at the end of the current campaign.
Former Springbok Frans Steyn, who is presently the director of rugby for the Cheetahs, is in discussions with Pienaar on his post-playing future.
It’s said that if Pienaar declines to take the top position right away, he may be offered the position of attack coach with the team.
Similar route to Rassie Erasmus
Pienaar would take a similar path as current Springboks head coach Erasmus if he went directly to a head coach position.
2003 saw Erasmus make his retirement official following his last Super Rugby season with the Cats. He became the new head coach of the Cheetahs the next season, and in his first season in command, the team made it to the Currie Cup semifinals.
He oversaw the Cheetahs’ first Super Rugby season in 2006 and helped the team win the Currie Cup for the first time since 1976 in his second year in charge.
In 2007, he became a consultant for Jake White’s coaching staff. He then moved to the Stormers, where he stayed until 2011, when he once more assumed responsibility for the South African Rugby Union’s organizational structures.
Erasmus returned to South Africa as director of rugby and head coach of the Springboks, guiding the team to consecutive Rugby World Cup championships, following a spell with Munster in Ireland.
