South Africa has secured the commitment of head coach Rassie Erasmus until the end of the 2031 Rugby World Cup, extending his previous deal which was set to expire after the 2027 tournament.
The move secures the future of the coach who steered the Springboks from sixth in the world to two successive World Cup titles.
“I have always said that I would find it hard to coach any other international team, and I’m very happy to continue,” said the 53-year-old.
The announcement comes as SA Rugby confirms the Springboks’ demanding summer schedule, kicking off the new Nations Championship.
The key fixtures include:
• 4 July: Vs. England at high-altitude Ellis Park, Johannesburg.
• 11 July: Vs. Scotland at high-altitude Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria.
• 18 July: Vs. Wales in coastal Durban.
Erasmus took over the team in 2018 and has since led them to the top of the world rankings, winning 23 of their last 27 Tests.
An announcement regarding contracts for the rest of the coaching staff is expected soon.
