San Francisco Frontiers - Nienaber to quit Springboks for Leinster after World Cup

"Nienaber cited personal reasons for the decision, but said his focus remained on the major task of the year, which was to give everything in the Springboks' defence of their Rugby World Cup title," said South Africa Rugby (SARFU) in a statement on Saturday.

Nienaber, who is 50, was an assistant to Rassie Erasmus as South Africa won the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan. He took over as head coach in 2020 when Erasmus became the Springbok director of rugby.

Leinster did not specify Nienaber's job title but he will replace former England coach Stuart Lancaster, who held the title of senior coach and is moving to Racing 92 in Paris.

Leo Cullen, who in February signed a two-year contract extension, has been head coach since 2015.

"Jacques is a world class coach with a winning track record at the very highest level of the game," Cullen told the Leinster web site.

Cullen added that with South African teams now in the URC Championship and the European Champions Cup, "Jacques' in-depth knowledge and experience of working with the Springboks will be a great addition."

Nienaber, a trained physiotherapist, started his career as an assistant with the Cape Town based Stormers from 2008-14. He had a first stint with the Springboks from 2011-16 before spending a season in Ireland, as defence coach at Munster in 2016-17, when Erasmus was head coach. The pair then moved to the Springbok the following season.

"The last few years have been the highlight of my coaching career and it's with a heavy heart that I'm finishing up my time with the Springboks and leaving the country for personal reasons," said Nienaber in the SARFU statement.

"My sole focus is on seeing the Springboks defend the Rugby World Cup title this year."

Rian Oberholzer, the SARFU chief executive officer, said Nienaber "was very open with us about the reasons for wanting to leave South Africa at the end of the season."

Oberholzer added that "We will confirm a successor in the title role of Springbok coach in due course. That planning will go on in the background, but Rassie Erasmus' services are locked in to the end of 2025."

The Springboks kick off their World Cup preparations at home to Australia on July in the curtailed Rugby Championship, before visiting New Zealand and entertaining Argentina.

They will face Wales and the All Blacks in World Cup warm-up matches in Cardiff and London.

They open their World Cup defence on September 10 against Scotland. Their pool also contains Romania, Ireland and Tonga.

The World Cup final is on October 28.

I.Wright--SFF