Matfield in 2013 had a contract with Super Sport and apparently had an agreement with them to be the Bulls line out Consultant. In 2014 Matfield quitted his job with Super Sport and -
* after being persuaded by Meyer to return to play rugby for the Bulls and ultimately SA - even though he entered into no playing contract with the Bulls; and
* instead of a playing contract entered into a contract with the Bulls to be their attack coach for three years,
That contract was supposed to run for three years and end at the end of 2016. However, after the WC Matfield asked to be released from his coaching contract so as to play for Northampton and the Bulls was so grateful for small mercies they could not release him quickly enough from that contract. On return from Northampton he signed a new contract with Super Sport - but this time Super Sport apparently was clever and make it clear to him he would not be welcomed back by them if he breaches his contract with them again.
Matfield was a dead loss as attacking coach for the Bulls and in 2014 and 2015 he failed repeatedly as a player a well. So I was not surprised by the following article from New24 as to withdrawal of his application for the Bulls coaching job:-
"Blue Bulls president Willem Strauss has shed more light on Springbok lock Victor Matfield’s decision to withdraw from the race to become Bulls head coach.
The Bulls on Tuesday confirmed the appointment of Pote Human as head coach of both their Super Rugby and Currie Cup teams for 2019.
Matfield was believed to be the preferred candidate to replace John Mitchell as head coach but pulled out at the last minute. Human and Southern Kings coach Deon Davids were the other candidates on a three-man shortlist.
While addressing reporters at Loftus Versfeld on Tuesday, Strauss said Matfield had informed him that the high-risk coaching environment led him to the decision to stay in his current role as a SuperSport pundit.
"It is difficult because he is not here to answer. What he informed me is that what it comes down to is the insecurity of being a coach. You can ask why he went through the whole process, but it is tough to be a coach. It is a high-risk environment, we all know that.
"But if I can summarise, it comes down to that. Maybe when he looked at the high-risk situation, maybe he thought he is better off where he is now in terms of security and for his family. But it was a personal decision he took."
Strauss insisted that Human had always been part of their plans and they would begin negotiations regarding extending his deal beyond 2019.
"Pote was always going to be part of the structures. Although it is a huge surprise, it is not that big of a surprise that he is still part of the setup.
"We did not give him a one-year contract. He is still on a contract until the end of next year. It was not like he was given a one-year extension. We appointed him yesterday, so give us a bit of time to get it started.”
The Bulls, meanwhile, also confirmed the appointment of Alan Zondagh as director of rugby on a three-year deal."
There was every chance that Matfield - bearing in mind his failed attack coach performance with the Bulls - likely felt that the chances of failure as a Bulls coach was high and he did not want to lose his contract appointment by Super Sport. Not very nice of him to withdraw his application when the selection process was at an advanced stage.
Funny - but Rupert has a big stake in the Bulls and Super Sport - so it would have been dangerous for him to fail as the Bulls coach. It was the Remgro subsidiary share of 50% in the Bulls that forced them to appoint Zondagh as Director of Rugby - allowing for the latter to keep tight control insofar as his sub-ordinate - the head coach - is concerned. .
