Erasmus quits Province post
10 Jan 2012
WP senior professional coach Rassie Erasmus has resigned and will explore other coaching options.
The news of Erasmus’s resignation broke on Monday night. Die Burger reported that the Cape coaching guru had already informed his employers of his decision to leave, and that Erasmus has been offered coaching jobs at clubs in England and France.
On Tuesday, Erasmus himself confirmed that he would be leaving Western Province and the Stormers at the end of January.
‘The pieces are in place at Province,’ he said via a statement. ‘Over the past few seasons we have put the structures in place and they are working well.
‘The management team and player base is settled and there are now a fantastic bunch of youngsters pushing the older guys hard. The squad is very close to taking that final step and winning silverware.
‘My job is largely done here and there is no doubt in my mind that Allister [Coetzee], Matt [Proudfoot], Fleckie [Robbie Fleck] and the rest of the management and players have got what it takes to get there.’
Erasmus admitted that he has been offered other coaching opportunities.
‘There are a number of new opportunities that have surfaced at a higher level and I am currently considering my options. Each is an exciting and massive new challenge, and that is a big attraction to me at this stage of my career.
‘In the interim I have offered to continue to assist at Province whenever required. I have enjoyed my time here in the Cape immensely and feel that I have contributed to facilitating building the structures that have taken us to the brink of success.
‘I have no doubt that that success is but a tiny step away now and I leave Province satisfied with the strides made. I am grateful to Province for the opportunity and Newlands, the Stormers, WP and the Faithful will always have a special place in my heart.’
It has been suggested that Erasmus’s decision to leave came as a shock to his WP bosses, but managing director Rob Wagner moved to dispel the rumours. According to Wagner, the union was waiting for the right time to announce his departure.
‘Rassie has made a huge contribution at WP. We are obviously very sorry to see him go, but understand his desire for new challenges.
‘Rassie has been very good in keeping us informed of his decision and we have been waiting for the return of our senior players and team management before making the announcement. We understand that he is a big loss but we are also confident that the structures, players, coaching and management staff and the plans in place at all levels in the Province, are strong enough to allow us to make that final jump and secure the silverware that we are all working towards.’
Having served as technical advisor to the Boks in 2007 and again for the duration of the 2011 World Cup, Erasmus was mentioned as a candidate for the head coaching post in 2012. However, it’s since emerged that Gert Smal is the favourite to succeed Peter de Villiers.
The new Bok coach will be officially appointed on 27 January. If Erasmus doesn’t take up a post overseas at a club or Test nation, he could possibly join the Bok coaching team again.
240 Comments
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10 Jan 2012, 19:20 pm
@IAAS-200:
Rassie’s resignation has nothing to do with SARU (for once) – this is all WP Rugby.
10 Jan 2012, 19:24 pm
@PissAnt-201:
Howzit bud! Things not looking good in the Cape hey! A really sad state of affairs. Just when we think things are getting better, they are actually getting worse…
10 Jan 2012, 19:26 pm
If Rassie is going to France or Ireland, no skin off anyone’s nose, much better for him and better for all concerned he is largely ineffective in the role he was designated to manage and between him and AC Stormers are pretty much in a whirlpool not knowing if they spinning clockwise or anti clockwise.. at least with one less maverick pulling skeef they got some chance of stabilizing and getting some kind of clarity into their strategic thinking.
I as yet have not seen one iota of real power thinking influence under Rassie.. many maverick type ideas but more bluster and promise and less result or reward. In short Rassie still got some growing to do as a real deal coach and better he go get his lessons and his growth curve realigned someplace else where he can pick up real experience in a real hard knocks environment of trial and error.. not here where he ain’t produced all that much as of yet.
10 Jan 2012, 19:28 pm
The AB’s made their new coach known quickly, yet we hanna hanna around which cannot be good for any of the players, let alone us the supporters. Super Rugby starts soon, yet no coach yet. Don’t know what the state secret is…
10 Jan 2012, 19:33 pm
@PissAnt-201:
You’ve been saying this for a while. Very symtomatic, this news.
@Bill Reyts-202:
Howzit, mate. Look on the bright side.
I think there’s a bright side. Maybe.
10 Jan 2012, 19:33 pm
@Bill Reyts-202:
This **** with WP Rugby has been brewing for a while.
Gert Smal, Mallet and Rassie (unofficially) have all left because of the amateur politicking of WP Rugby administration where clubs rule the roost and the boys in charge are more concerned to please clubs than sort out rugby issues within WP Rugby so they can continue in their cushy jobs.
Rassie will get a job in Europe and make a great name for himself. Gert will probably be the next Bok coach and Mallet will more than just likely be the next England coach.
Now ask yourself how WP Rugby managed to alienate 3 coaches of this calibre in less than a decade…
The answer – coaches (and DOR’s) may have changed – but the administration has basically stayed the same throughout this period.
Now where is the problem?
10 Jan 2012, 19:34 pm
SARU don’t know who the next coach is.. they are no where near to making any decision midst all the cloak and dagger type speculations…
They probably have a round robin vote on the matter around time of appointment like last time where the candidates draw equal amount of votes and then on a re vote the one with the short straw gets kicked out the back door…
10 Jan 2012, 19:36 pm
Where’s extraball.
I need a good laugh.
10 Jan 2012, 19:36 pm
@IAAS-205:
I have seen this for a while now but I am lucky enough to see more than the average fan on the street.
I cannot say I am unhappy at the moment as dire as this situation is and has been – because for once I reckon most fans will now see where the **** starts with WP.
10 Jan 2012, 19:37 pm
I am a Lion
10 Jan 2012, 19:39 pm
@IAAS-205:
Howzit buddy! Which side is that?
@PissAnt-206:
Yeah it is tough on us the supporters. Have been seeing things going from bad to worse so it isn’t really a surprise. Yeah I think it is a done deal that Gert is coach, but not sure what Rassie will be doing. I hear people saying England as assistant to Mallet… You have to feel for the players though…
10 Jan 2012, 19:41 pm
@Dawn-210:
Hi Dawn! Yeah not a bad idea…
10 Jan 2012, 19:43 pm
My second team
10 Jan 2012, 19:45 pm
Thought you were jumping ship! We are suckers for punishment…
10 Jan 2012, 19:45 pm
@PissAnt-209:
It is always the guy stating the obvious who gets hammered, but I will state it anyway.
The pattern here isn’t difficult to see.
Who are the guys elected by these “clubs” in the Western Cape who now run WP rugby? The Wakefields and Tightasses of this world.
Who are the “clubs” who have been running Eastern Province rugby into oblivion for the last decade and a half?
Get the picture?
These ex SARU people are all pumped up with idealogical fervour, but they can’t run a pissup in a brewery.
10 Jan 2012, 19:54 pm
@Tacitus-215:
Tac we have amateurs running rugby in 90% of unions in SA Rugby – not all of them ex SARU members but all amateurs and all as you mentioned, cannot organise a piss-up in a brewery.
10 Jan 2012, 19:55 pm
@PissAnt-201:
Yes PA. Rassie is a gem of a person. He built up a very strong rugby culture amongst the younger WP systems. He was an astounding mentor to these players. I observed it myself. He doesn’t like politics, and that is about all the fat cats in upper management at WP are obsessed with. Rassie deserves respect. He will go on to great things, and the boys he nurtured will stand by his legacy.
10 Jan 2012, 19:56 pm
I am out for 1/2 hour ladies and gents.
10 Jan 2012, 20:07 pm
@Jinx2-217:
Sad thing is these WP administrators will badmouth everyone to gain the favour of the clubs that keeps them in power – including their own coaches.
I mean wasn’t it Wakefield that mentioned a couple of months ago WP Rugby is too white? (player wise)
This guy was a team manager in WP once – why not open his mouth then?
They are no different from government in election year.
10 Jan 2012, 20:08 pm
@PissAnt-219:
In fact I think I read somewhere Wakefield has been involved in WP rugby for almost 16 years or more?
Gives you an idea of the ‘quality’ of people running rugby in WP…
10 Jan 2012, 20:12 pm
Sad sad sad!
10 Jan 2012, 20:29 pm
Does wakefield get paid
10 Jan 2012, 20:33 pm
He takes his salary in pick n pay vouchers.
10 Jan 2012, 20:35 pm
Gunther!
How sweet it is to have you back.
10 Jan 2012, 20:43 pm
How sweet it is to be back with you my angel.
10 Jan 2012, 20:54 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-225:
Welcome back! Were you away?
10 Jan 2012, 21:06 pm
@Bill Reyts-226: grunter that was one hellava long-weekend boet. You come back to get a rest?
10 Jan 2012, 22:25 pm
Happy New Year to all my fellow bulls compadres and may it be a good one for the players and fans of the bulls,although it is the end of an era a new one begins abd i am looking forward to see this new team playing,if heyeneke can get this team playing good rugby the trophies will come back to loftus.Happy new year to all the non-bulls fans out there and good luck to all your teams,as long as the bulls finish first i do not care who comes second.
10 Jan 2012, 23:02 pm
Another upstanding and “honorable” kiwi rugby player :
New Zealand rugby player Willie Ripia is reported to have quit Australian Super Rugby side the Western Forcer are being caught stealing from his teammates.
The former Taranaki, Hurricanes and New Zealand Maori first-five eighth was captured on CCTV taking money from the changing rooms at the Force’s Mount Claremont headquarters.
Management was said to be considering whether to sack or suspend Ripia before the player offered his resignation.
Players are reported to have complained to management for months about money going missing.
Ripia had allegedly been suspected of taking the cash but denied any involvement.
But when he was told about the CCTV footage the 26-year-old confessed.
It is believed Ripia has had counseling arranged by the club to tackle a gambling issue.
It is believed none of the players whose money was taken are pressing charges.
The loss of Ripia will come as a major blow ahead of the new Super Rugby season.
10 Jan 2012, 23:28 pm
@PissAnt-216:
SARU and WP Rugby were running well when Louis Luyt was the CEO
It still ran reasonably well with Riaan Oberholtzer in charge
When a guy name Van Rooyan came on, things started crumbling
That trend hasn’t stopped with Hoskins, just that the increased revenues from TV contracts and devaluation of the Rand helped to paint situation prettier.
Reality is, players and coaches in SA today using their performance at 1st Class Rugby as a springboard for bailing out overseas,
simple
11 Jan 2012, 00:11 am
oh well oh well whats new in the SA rugby related zoo its still a black white thing as it ever shall be forever and a day forever more
11 Jan 2012, 00:37 am
yes Tacitus, it was the ‘clubs’ (read blacks & coloureds) who ran the GLRU to the ground, who elected the likes of manie reyneke & authorised d-ick muir’s million rand contract for doing sweet bugger-all!
It was the same ‘clubs’ that ran SWD to the ground and instructed Stag Cronje to do a shady as f-uck deal with BUNKER Capital.
11 Jan 2012, 06:30 am
Those who suggest this is a racial thing are revealing their own narrow perspectives and taking the easy, lazy way out…
Greed and corruption fly no racial flags… and are found in all business, social, racial and cultural circles in south africa…
The problem is… as pissant says… wall to wall amateurism, rampant ego driven greed and agendas… with non-existant checks and balances… and zero accountability…
The guilty reflect all colours of the rainbow nation
11 Jan 2012, 07:45 am
@Tacitus-215: you still havent had your Damascus Road yet have you ?
Wake up man!
11 Jan 2012, 07:49 am
SA rugby always reverts to the ‘ racism factor” – get over it , if somebody is doing a shiiiiite job , then they are doing a shiiiiiiiiiite job
11 Jan 2012, 08:28 am
when you think about it, the way in which saru and the provincial unions seem to lurch through things from one day to the next… its become just like sa football and the way in which safa and bafana do their banana republic comedy routine.
two sides of the same coin.
11 Jan 2012, 09:09 am
@au revoir mon tout noirs, au revoir…-236: SARU is a banana republic Kaapse Klopse routine.
11 Jan 2012, 09:23 am
@Transformation-237:
yip, toby actually looks like he could be a helluva klops… dancing his way into the stadium…
11 Jan 2012, 10:54 am
@Transformation-232: Tac is a real punk a$$ b1tch. Tries to sugarcoat the k@k he speaks. Man up Tac and say it like it is.
PA, I’m slightly dissappointed in your sweeping statement re the ex SARU guys. FYI, i think Tobie Titus and Wakefield are a bunch of drunkards posing as administrators, but at the same time, non-white clubs fee more comfortable nominating the devil they know, rather than the one they don’t.
All the discuccions above talk about Wakefield and Titus, but very little is mentioned about the business arm of WP Rugby, which is headed by Rob Wagner.
11 Jan 2012, 13:07 pm
@Tacitus-215:
Bloody dark people. Moering up everything the white people built up over the years.
Bedamn those people.
Why I always maintain that a guy like Hondo is 5 times the man some of you will ever be. At least he does not try to hide behind semantics.
@pompies2-239:
Wakefield and Titus have really overstayed their welcome. They should go. The sooner, the better.
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