Rassie Erasmus has dismissed speculation that Springboks attack coach Tony Brown could leave for a return to New Zealand. Brown, who joined Erasmus’ coaching ticket following South Africa’s victory in the 2023 World Cup, is contracted until 2027. He had been linked with a possible All Blacks role following the sacking of Scott Robertson.
“It was just a bit frustrating with people suggesting there was a possibility that he would leave prior to finishing his contract,” Erasmus said on Monday.
“We had a brief chat and asked Tony if everything was still the same, and he said, ‘Of course, my contract is until 2027, and I am committed here’. We would love to keep him longer than 2027, but I don’t know when New Zealand will make him an offer or if they will make him an offer.
“But he won’t be leaving us before 2027. We’ve put offers out to critical positions in our management team to get some calm around their jobs after next year. There are obviously performance clauses for doing well in there.
“Tony will be here until 2027; we want to keep him longer. But he has also been honest and said that he would love to coach New Zealand.”
In an interview with a New Zealand radio station last week, Brown revealed that he had been approached recently by Robertson about the possibility of joining the All Blacks coaching team. He also admitted that coaching New Zealand in the future remains an ambition.
Erasmus’ previous experience of World Cups means he would like to have his coaching team’s future secure beyond the 2027 tournament.
“I think the big thing is our experience from previous World Cups,” said the Springboks head coach. “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.
“So, with Rian’s (Oberholzer, SA Rugby CEO) 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.”
