Leinster Rugby have announced the signing of current Springbok head coach Jacques Nienaber as a replacement for the outgoing Stuart Lancaster.
Nienaber will continue in his role as the Springbok head coach until the conclusion of this year’s Rugby World Cup.
The World Cup winning coach will join the Irish powerhouse as their ‘Senior Coach’ and will work alongside current boss Leo Cullen.
Securing the signature of a current international head coach of Nienaber’s quality is a major coup for the four-time European Champions.
“We’re hugely excited by the prospect of Jacques joining us.
“We’ve been back and forth over the last while so yeah, a good, exciting day for Leinster Rugby.
“He’s]someone who brings unbelievable experience and the fact that he has experienced Ireland as well is a huge help. He has an idea what he is getting himself in for as well.
“You think of the experience Jacques has had with the Springboks, winning a World Cup four years ago, leading the team into that Lions series during that Covid period – it was a very, very difficult series for lots of different reasons as we know.
“The experience that he is going to bring to the group is going to be fantastic.”
Nienaber will be supremely familiar with Irish Rugby having previously worked with Munster Rugby as an assistant coach to Rassie Erasmus.
Coming as somewhat of a shock given there had been no mention of Nienaber joining Leinster, supporters of the side will be relieved that such a high quality operator is replacing the highly respected Lancaster.
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