In a bold move securing the future of their coaching staff, SA Rugby has dangled a hefty carrot in front of Springbok assistant coach Tony Brown, offering him an extension that would keep him in the fold until the grand stage of the 2031 World Cup. This comes hot on the heels of locking down Rassie Erasmus until the same epochal event set in the USA. Rian Oberholzer, the big boss at SA Rugby, spilled the beans during his chat on the Rapport Praat Sport podcast, revealing that the wheels are in motion and contract offers are afloat, awaiting the nod from the coaching squadron.
Amidst the swirling rumors of a potential coaching carousel that could've seen Brown reunite with his old pal Jamie Joseph, following Scott Robertson's exit from the All Blacks, Oberholzer was quick to clamp down on any speculation. "He and Rassie have spoken," he declared, nailing down Brown's status with a not-so-subtle hint of “He’s going nowhere, folks!”
"If we can keep him longer than 2027, it will be even better for us."
Indeed, Tony Brown himself has thrown cold water on any fiery gossip linking him with a move back to New Zealand. "I don’t have an ‘out’ of my contract, so I’m back in South Africa [until the 2027 World Cup]," he confirmed, essentially putting a padlock on his current commitment.
Oberholzer didn't mince his words when highlighting just how crucial Brown has been to the Bok brigade. His knack for meshing well with the team and his relentless work ethic are, according to Oberholzer, treasures too valuable to lose. "The coaching group works so well together. It would be a big blow to us if we lost him, but let’s accept that he will stay until 2027," he added, perhaps crossing his fingers behind his back for good measure.
As the Boks gear up for another rumble on the rugby pitch, the off-field play seems just as gripping. With Brown's saga seemingly settled, South African fans can breathe a sigh of relief – for now. But as always in the high-stakes world of sports, expect the unexpected!
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In a bold move securing the future of their coaching staff, SA Rugby has dangled a hefty carrot in front of Springbok assistant coach Tony Brown, offering him an extension that would keep him in the fold until the grand stage of the 2031 World Cup. This comes hot on the heels of locking down Rassie Erasmus until the same epochal event set in the USA. Rian Oberholzer, the big boss at SA Rugby, spilled the beans during his chat on the Rapport Praat Sport podcast, revealing that the wheels are in motion and contract offers are afloat, awaiting the nod from the coaching squadron.
Amidst the swirling rumors of a potential coaching carousel that could've seen Brown reunite with his old pal Jamie Joseph, following Scott Robertson's exit from the All Blacks, Oberholzer was quick to clamp down on any speculation. "He and Rassie have spoken," he declared, nailing down Brown's status with a not-so-subtle hint of “He’s going nowhere, folks!”
"If we can keep him longer than 2027, it will be even better for us."
Indeed, Tony Brown himself has thrown cold water on any fiery gossip linking him with a move back to New Zealand. "I don’t have an ‘out’ of my contract, so I’m back in South Africa [until the 2027 World Cup]," he confirmed, essentially putting a padlock on his current commitment.
Oberholzer didn't mince his words when highlighting just how crucial Brown has been to the Bok brigade. His knack for meshing well with the team and his relentless work ethic are, according to Oberholzer, treasures too valuable to lose. "The coaching group works so well together. It would be a big blow to us if we lost him, but let’s accept that he will stay until 2027," he added, perhaps crossing his fingers behind his back for good measure.
As the Boks gear up for another rumble on the rugby pitch, the off-field play seems just as gripping. With Brown's saga seemingly settled, South African fans can breathe a sigh of relief – for now. But as always in the high-stakes world of sports, expect the unexpected!