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Heyneke Meyer

JOHANNESBURG. — Springboks coach Heyneke Meyer has stepped down from his position, the South African Rugby Union (SARU) announced in a statement yesterday.

“Heyneke Meyer has advised SARU that he no longer wished to be considered as a candidate to coach the Springboks,” the union said.

“Meyer said he had decided to stand aside as coach, a decision he considers to be in the best interests of South African rugby, following recent developments.”

The announcement comes a day before a union meeting – where a top agenda item to be discussed by the executive council was the position of Springbok coach.

In a statement thanking him for his service to the team – and calling him “a credit to South African rugby” – SARU praised Meyer’s track record of 34 victories and two draws in 50 matches.

“During his tenure, the Springboks recorded a 66.7 percent winning record in Tests and scored 143 Test tries – second only to New Zealand in that time,” the union said.

But it was a tenure marred by continual criticism, both of what detractors called Meyer’s use of outdated, obsessively physical tactics and his failure to meet transformation targets.

The process of finding a replacement for Meyer as Springbok coach has already started.

SARU’s General Council was set to meet on December 11 to discuss Meyer’s future as Bok coach, but that meeting will now be to find a suitable replacement.

And the Confederation of South African Trade Unions has welcomed Meyer’s decision to quit his role as Springbok coach.

Cosatu had been critical of Meyer during his tenure as Bok coach, with the trade union of the opinion that Meyer had not done enough to transform the Springbok team. — AFP.