Rassie Erasmus says that SA Rugby and the Springboks want to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past after Tony Brown’s post-World Cup departure was confirmed.
Brown linked up with Erasmus’ coaching team in 2024 and has masterminded the team’s attacking revolution that has delivered back-to-back Rugby Championship titles and two unbeaten end-of-year tours.
It is widely understood that the Springboks head coach and SA Rugby were eager to retain the former All Blacks fly-half’s services beyond the expiration of his contract at the 2027 Rugby World Cup, but at the same time, Brown has made no secret of the fact that he wishes to coach his home country.
Brown: ‘I’m fully committed to the Springboks’
He will realise that dream in 2028 after signing a deal with New Zealand Rugby to become an All Blacks assistant coach on a two-year deal after Australia 2027.
But until then, Brown insists that he is committed to the Springboks and their target of winning a third successive Rugby World Cup title.
“My contract with New Zealand Rugby only begins in 2028, so there is still a long road ahead before that comes into play,” he said in a SA Rugby statement. “Right now, I am fully committed to the Springboks. What we are building and trying to achieve as a team over the next two years is my only focus.”
In the same statement confirming Brown’s departure, Erasmus said that the Boks are delighted for their attack coach and added that ‘clarity’ was important for SA Rugby looking beyond the upcoming World Cup.
Tony Brown breaks silence on All Blacks links as Springboks coach reveals key contract detail
Rassie: ‘We’ve made the mistake in the past’
Erasmus has re-signed through to the 2031 tournament in the USA, but negotiations are still ongoing with his assistant coaches whose contracts all expire in 2027. The head coach says that it is important that the future of the coaches are discussed now and not in the year of the global tournament.
“Tony has made a remarkable difference, both on and off the field, and he has always been upfront with us about wanting to be closer to his family and about the All Blacks holding a special place in his heart, and we are genuinely delighted for him,” he said.
“We’ve made the mistake in the past of negotiating contracts in a RWC year, and this clarity will allow us all to go full steam ahead with our preparations for this and next season.”
Ahead of the 2023 Rugby World Cup, SA Rugby confirmed that assistant coach Felix Jones and then-head coach Jacques Nienaber would be leaving the Springboks coaching team after the tournament in France to join England and Leinster, respectively. While Jones has since returned to South Africa, Nienaber remains with Leinster for the time being.
“I was part of the 2007 World Cup planning there and then you know if you don’t win the World Cup, are you gonna have a job the next year or not,” Erasmus explained earlier this year.
“So, with Rian’s (Oberholzer) help and obviously everybody that’s involved in the protocols here (at SA Rugby), you sort of don’t want the World Cup year being (a time where) people are unsure about whether they have a job next year.
“I mean Jacques Nienaber was a classic example so the big thing with us was everybody signed until 2027.”
Brown’s departure from the Boks will surely sting, but Erasmus and SA Rugby have much more time to recruit a replacement without it interfering with the World Cup preparations.
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‘We are grateful to Tony’
Meanwhile, SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer hailed the work Brown has done during his time with the team and the fact that the ex-Highlanders boss is also sticking to his word that he would honour his contract.
“We are grateful to Tony for his commitment, loyalty and honesty throughout his time with us,” Oberholzer said.
“He has made a tremendous contribution to the Springboks and to SA Rugby as a whole since joining us, and we have no doubt that he will continue to give everything he has to help the team maintain the high standards we set for ourselves on the field.”