Popular Stormers coach NOT in running for Springboks top job

Last month it was revealed that current Springboks head coach Jacques Nienaber will vacate his post after the 2023 World Cup.

Understandably, plenty of attention has immediately turned to the candidates who could take over from Nienaber, with John Dobson having established himself as the leading domestic coach after leading the Stormers to back-to-back URC finals.

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However, it’s been expected that SA Rugby will promote from within, while Dobson himself has suggested he’s not interested in the position just yet.

“First of all, nobody asked me (to apply), and it’s not something that was even discussed here,” he commented, as quoted by Netwerk24. “I really strongly believe in the project we are working on (at the Stormers).

“We have hosted every one of our URC playoff games, which is an achievement. But it probably paints a false picture of where we are. We need a bit more depth, need to get our feeder systems right and get out of administration… I am eager to see this project through to the end.”

As it is, Dobson has committed his future to the Stormers with a long-term contract through to 2027. Although he could undoubtedly extricate himself if the Bok job came calling, it seems he remains fully invested in spending the next four-year cycle at the Cape franchise.

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According to recent reports, director of rugby Rassie Erasmus will play a key role in guiding SA Rugby on who to appoint as the next head coach. 

In a recent edition of Rapport newspaper, it’s now interestingly reported that Erasmus himself is likely to take on the head coaching role once again until at least 2025, which is when his current contract runs until.

It would certainly be an interesting move for Erasmus to effectively take over from Nienaber, but it may make for a more seamless transition if he resumes the role he fulfilled between 2018 and 2019, while grooming the next head coach.

That would also mean that SA Rugby only need to find a new defence coach to take over the duties that Nienaber had served in this facet of play, while also finding one other candidate to take over from outgoing assistant Felix Jones.

It’s also already been confirmed that SA Rugby is not looking at an overseas coach, and will also not be rushing to make an appointment.

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With all this in mind, SA Rugby announced recently that three current Springbok assistant coaches Mzwandile Stick, Deon Davids and Daan Human, as well as Head of Athletic Performance, Andy Edwards, had signed contract extensions for another four years. This will see them remain with the team until the conclusion of the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.

Stick and Davids, the two most senior assistant coaches in the set-up, were thought to be the leading candidates to take over from Nienaber after it was already made clear that the Springboks will most likely promote from within.

If SA Rugby opts to advertise the position, they could receive some interesting applications, but an ‘outsider’ getting the gig looked increasingly unlikely as they would surely want to bring in their own assistant coaches.

IN CLOSING | Have your say: Who should be the next Springbok coach?

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