SA Rugby chief drops hints about who could succeed Rassie Erasmus as Springboks boss
SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer has signaled who might step into the Springboks’ head coaching role after Rassie Erasmus. Erasmus recently extended his contract to 2031, but the governing body has a succession plan in place that could see the next leader emerge from within the current setup.
By the time the USA hosts the next Rugby World Cup, Erasmus will have spent 13 years with the Boks in roles spanning director of rugby and head coach. In the past, SA Rugby adopted four-year coaching contracts, allowing coaches like Jake White, Peter de Villiers, and Heyneke Meyer to steer teams through a World Cup before a new appointment. Oberholzer, however, says the policy has shifted in favor of recognizing and rewarding results, rather than sticking to a strict World Cup-cycle approach.
A key point from Oberholzer is that future national-team coaches are likely to come through the existing coaching structures. This means Erasmus’ successor could already be part of the Springboks’ coaching team. The same scenario occurred in 2020 when Jacques Nienaber took over from Erasmus, and a similar transition could unfold after the 2031 World Cup.
Oberholzer shared these thoughts during an appearance on SABC, discussing the broader state of SA Rugby. He explained that succession planning now encompasses all national teams, not just the men’s side. “That is all part of the next phase and the next series and period of time where we start to look at Rassie’s succession planning,” he said. “But it’s not just about the men’s team. We also need to consider the women’s team, the U20s, the U18s, and the sevens.” He noted that Swys de Bruin will remain in charge of the Women’s team through the next World Cup, which he sees as a positive development.
The approach marks a move away from coaching cycles that end after a single World Cup. World rugby politics and the broader coaching landscape influence these decisions as SA Rugby aims for continuity and stability across all squads.
Oberholzer outlined a plan where the current coach’s success determines whether they stay for the next phase, while a pipeline is developed to integrate the next leader. He emphasized that stability is now the goal for both the men’s and women’s programs, with the women’s team contracted through 2029 and the men’s through 2031, giving ample time to implement a structured succession.
The discourse suggests Erasmus’ replacement could come from within the Springboks’ own ranks, with names like Mzwandile Stick and Deon Davids frequently mentioned, given their long-standing roles since joining the coaching staff in 2018. The possibility of a foreign head coach is considered unlikely, given South Africa’s history of promoting from within. Still, the grooming of potential successors remains an ongoing process. Duane Vermeulen, widely respected since joining SA Rugby’s coaching structures after retirement, is sometimes discussed as a future option, though he lacks head-coach experience.
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