Rassie Erasmus stays tight-lipped on Munster departure date

Rassie Erasmus refused to provide clarity on his return date to South Africa despite his lawyer Frikkie Erasmus stating that the 45-year-old is due to start as Springbok Director of Rugby on November 1st.

"The only people that can give that answer is Garrett [Fitzgerald, Munster CEO] and David Nucifora [IRFU High Performance Director]," said Munster's outgoing Director of Rugby. "There are 60 million people in South Africa and if everybody on that sides opinion is asked you will get a lot of different opinions.

“Now we know Johann van Graan is the new coach and once he and Munster are comfortable then I will leave. If that happens before November 1st then I will leave then but I definitely will stay to welcome the new coach and help until he takes the reigns. I don’t know when he is coming over here, we are already into work permits and stuff like that, and then it is a matter of handing over.

“But the only people who can give accurate answers are Garrett and David Nucifora. All the other things on the other side are difficult for me to comment on.”

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Frikkie Erasmus stated last week: “Rassie will start working at SA Rugby on 1 November.”

Ireland face the Springboks at the Aviva stadium on November 11th.

When asked if he expects to be in Limerick for back to back Champions Cup games against Leicester in December, Erasmus added: “That’s where people are making assumptions. There are three tough games before that, with Racing 92 next week, and then there’s a three week break.

“It depends on a work permit. If the work permit doesn’t come through then definitely I will still be here in December but it comes through and he arrives in the next two or three weeks then it depends how long Johann, Munster and the players need me to stay.”