Welcome to Africanews

Please select your experience

Watch Live

Sport

sport

South Africa sacks national Rugby coach

South Africa sacks national Rugby coach

South Africa

South Africa coach Allister Coetzee has been sacked after a tumultuous two years in charge of the Springboks, South African Rugby announced on Friday.

His departure came just days after the leaking of an explosive letter in which Coetzee accused South African Rugby of setting him up to fail.

The letter was an indicator of the strained relations between the coach and the rugby body.

“First and foremost we had to assess what is in the best interests of the Springboks,” said Jurie Roux, the chief executive officer of SA Rugby.

It was widely expected that Coetzee would not be the coach in 2018 after managing just 11 wins in his 25 Tests in charge.

His record includes a first time loss to Italy and record losses against New Zealand.

“We’d like to thank Allister for his passion and dedication to the Springbok cause and wish him every success in his next role.”

Good riddance if you ask me..Allister Coetzee failed dismally. Ningafaki i race bantu bakuthi, ayingeni ndawo.

— Ta Zane (@Zanezinto) February 2, 2018

Sacking Allister Coetzee won’t help. He’s not the problem with the #Springboks. As long as SARU doesn’t transform the sport, the talent pool will keep on shrinking to the point of recalling a retired Victor Matfield from the Supersport studios next year, again!

— Themba Mbuyisa (@Malabulabu945) February 2, 2018

A new coach will be named later this month and is expected to be Rassie Erasmus, recently appointed as SA Rugby’s director of rugby.

View more