The Springboks wanted the legendary referee to join their coaching set-up ahead of their World Cup defence later this year. Image: Rugby World Cup/Twitter
Nigel Owens says NO to Springboks Rugby World Cup 2023 job offer
The Springboks wanted the legendary referee to join their coaching set-up ahead of their World Cup defence later this year.
The Springboks wanted the legendary referee to join their coaching set-up ahead of their World Cup defence later this year. Image: Rugby World Cup/Twitter
Retired Wales referee Nigel Owens will not be accepting an offer to join the Springbok coaching team for this year’s Rugby World Cup.
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SA Rugby Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus wanted the Welshman on board as the team’s new referee coach with the reigning world champions looking to defend the crown they won in Japan four years ago.
The role would have seen Owens work with captain Siya Kolisi and his team to improve their communication and overall relationship with match officials, as well as refereeing their contact sessions during training and giving feedback to World Rugby on behalf of South Africa.
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Last month, 51-year-old Owens revealed he was torn over the offer, labelling it “incredibly exciting” but questioning whether it was coming at the right time for him with other personal and work commitments to think about.
Nigel Owens cannot commit
WalesOnline understands he has now told Erasmus that he cannot commit to the role at this time.
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The news comes days after Erasmus spoke of his hopes that Owens’ appointment would help to restore the Springboks reputation with World Rugby, telling the Mail that the Welsh legend remained the one missing piece of the team’s jigsaw.
The South Africa boss – at the time – remained confident of bringing Owens on board.
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Explaining why he so badly wanted the Welshman, Erasmus continued: “The reason is straightforward. We could take one of our local refs but it would be another South African voice. People from the outside think the South African voice is attacking or arrogant. Even the way I talk, sometimes people think it’s aggressive. When you’ve known me a while you know it’s not aggressive.”
“We definitely want to change that view,” he added.
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“Someone like Nigel might come in and say, ‘these guys are doing it right’, or he might say, ‘hey guys, you have to change a few things here’. It’s the way he communicates. It’s a real thing we’re trying to fix, not a smokescreen.”
Watch this space as to whom Rassie might approach next!
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