Rassie gets top job... with Boks

The South African Rugby Union on Sunday confirmed the appointment of former Springbok loose forward Rassie Erasmus into a senior management position at the organisation.

SARU also confirmed that they had entered into "formal negotiations" with Bulls forwards coach Johann van Graan, former Springbok fullback and Blue Bulls backline coach Ricardo Loubscher, Bulls defence coach John McFarland and Bulls conditioning coach Basil Carzis.

Erasmus has been appointed at SARU to fill the vacant position of General Manager: High Performance Teams. He will also be seconded to the Springboks when they are in camp.

"Rassie is one of the most astute brains in world rugby - his appointment at SARU will ensure we have the best possible leadership at our national teams," said SARU CEO Jurie Roux.

"He will work with all the national teams, but will be involved with the Springboks while they are in camp.

"Our aim is to always produce winning teams and Rassie's main task will be to establish structures to do this. He will be tasked to create a blueprint for South African rugby that can be implemented from junior to senior level, for our men's, women's and Sevens' teams."

Springbok head coach Heyneke Meyer said he was very happy with Erasmus' appointment at SARU and that he was looking forward to working with the former Springbok loose forward.

"Rassie's inputs to the Springboks last year were lauded by everyone I spoke to and his coaching pedigree speaks for itself, considering the vast amount of success he's had at the Cheetahs and Western Province," said Meyer.

"I'm excited to have him on board and I know he will add value to rugby in South Africa, which is ultimately what his job will be."

Roux also announced that SARU have entered into formal negotiations with Van Graan, Loubscher, McFarland and Carzis.

SARU would also like to secure the services of Cheetahs conditioning coach Niel du Plessis, former Springbok flyhalf and Paarl Gymnasium Director of Sport Louis Koen, former French prop Pieter de Villiers and Ian Schwartz, the Blue Bulls' High Performance Manager.

Furthermore, three members of the Springbok medical team from the last four years, Dr Craig Roberts (team doctor), Vivian Verwant (physiotherapist) and Daliah Hurwitz (masseuse), have been re-appointed.

The rest of the management team will consist of Charles Wessels (Operational Head), Ann-lee Murray (PR and Admin Manager), JJ Fredericks (Logistics), Albé Visser (Technical Analyst) and De Jongh Borchardt (Communications Manager).

"It's no secret that the negotiations around the Springbok assistant coaches positions have taken longer than we had hoped, but we want to give Heyneke the team that he sees as the best for doing the job," said Roux.

"I'm very pleased that the process of securing the services of the right people is now in full swing and we're confident that negotiations will be concluded soon as the Castle Lager Incoming Tour against England looms large.

"We know the people identified by Heyneke are the best in the business and we've worked very hard behind the scenes to secure their services to Springbok rugby. An announcement in this regard will be made very soon."

Meyer said: "At this stage, I can't really comment on the process, but I would like to thank SARU for the effort they've put in to getting the people I've identified to be part of my management.

"I have worked closely with most of the people while others have come very highly regarded and I'm confident the Springboks will benefit from their involvement. We will work well together as a team and will hit the ground running in the short turnaround for the first Test against England," Meyer said.

The appointment of Erasmus, who looked to move abroad after falling out with some of the politically driven hierarchy at Western Province and the Stormers, should be seen as a huge coup for SARU.

He played in 37 Springbok Tests, one Test as captain, was a Tri-Nations winner in 1998, played at the 1999 World Cup and was a member of record-setting Springbok team that won 17 consecutive Tests (when he played in all but two of these matches).

He made his Bok debut against the British & Irish Lions in Johannesburg on July 5, 1997.

He played in 117 matches for Free State Cheetahs, seven for the Golden Lions and 56 matches for the Cats (Super Rugby franchise). Overall, he has a first-class record of 214 matches - scoring 58 tries and two conversions in the process.

He held coaching posts at the Free State Cheetahs from 2005 to 2007, as well as with Western Province and the Stormers (from 2007 to 2011).

He was a technical analyst for the Bok teams that went to the 2007 and 2011 World Cup tournaments, although he did not travel to France in 2007.