SOUTH Africa Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus say he will not be joining the IRFU.
Reports emerged last week that World Cup winning coach Rassie was set for a return to Ireland.
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Former Munster coach Erasmus was rumoured to be stepping down from his role as South Africa’s Director of Rugby following the World Cup in France.
Reports suggested that Erasmus was among the candidates being considered to replace David Nucifora as the Performance Director of the Ireland Rugby Football Union.
Australian Nucifora is set to leave his position with the Irish body after taking the then newly created role in 2014.
Former Ireland headcoach Joe Schmidt has also been linked with the role.
The 2019 winning World Cup coach spent a season at Munster during the 2016/17.
Rugby legend Victor Matfield made claims during an episode of ‘The Rugby Pod podcast’.
Matfield indicated that Erasmus may follow Jacques Nienaber and make a return to Ireland.
South Africa Head Coach, Jacques Nienaber, will join Leinster after the Rugby World Cup later this year.
But the Boks’ boss flatly ruled out any move back to Ireland.
Speaking over Zoom this afternoon, the South Africa coach deniedl any deal was done for him to join the IRFU.
He said: “No, no. There have been no talks, there is no truth in that.
“I’m not sure where it started but I have not chatted to them. I am definitely not following Jacques.”
Erasmus also confirmed Handre Pollard will not play any part in Saturday’s clash.
He was called into the Springbok squad on Sunday as a replacement for hooker Malcolm Marx.
“No, he definitely won’t be selected for this week unless we get two or three injuries.
“He’s just joined us today, he’s just played his first 40 minutes in 14/15 weeks for Leicester on Friday and that was the issue why we didn’t bring him to the World Cup.
“It’s good to have him here, he must get up to speed with the intensity of our training sessions, slot in nicely. We’ve only played two games at this World Cup, I’m sure at some stage we’ll have him back.”
