JOHANNESBURG - Johan Ackermann has confirmed he is considering an offer from Gloucester in England to join their coaching team.
“I have been offered an opportunity to go there and am in the process of looking into the pros and cons,” he said. “I’ll make a decision sooner rather than later, when the time is right. It’s something I’m looking at, but I do not want to disrupt the team right now, and to leave them in two minds.”
Gloucester want Ackermann to replace former Brumbies coach Laurie Fisher who left by mutual consent last week, following a poor run of results. Golden Lions Rugby Union chief executive Rudolf Straeuli said yesterday that they were aware of the approach by Gloucester.
“When you’re successful, as our coaches and players have been in recent times, there will be approaches from clubs and teams from all over the world,” said Straeuli.
“We know about Johan’s situation and will discuss it at the right time. He, however, has a contract until the end of 2018, and right now he’s happy where he is, and so are we happy, with him.”
It’s also understood that several Lions players who became Springboks last year are on the shopping lists of some of Europe’s biggest clubs.
“It’s a constant thing ... players being linked to other teams. We’ll always try and keep our players, as we’ve done in the last few years here at the Lions, Straeuli said. “We’ve been able to keep some of our best players by them being allowed to sign dual deals with Japanese clubs.”
Most of the current group of Super Rugby stars, like Ackermann, are signed up until the end of next season.
It is believed none of the Lions players who wore the green and gold last year and have been deemed to be the future of Bok rugby have been offered a national contract. Yet, SA Rugby are believed to be trying to lure a few overseas-based players back to South Africa and offering them a Bok contract. This, it is said, may drive a number of younger players to consider deals abroad.
Some of the Lions players who Straeuli and the union have managed to keep on their books by allowing them to also play in Japan are Elton Jantjies, Franco Mostert, Lionel Mapoe, Jaco Kriel and Warren Whiteley.
Meanwhile, wing Madosh Tambwe will play the biggest game of his life when he makes his Lions and Super Rugby debut against the Reds on Saturday.
The 19-year-old former Parktown Boys High pupil, who was still at school last year and starred for the Lions at Under-19 level last season, will don the No 14 jumper in the round four Super Rugby match at Ellis Park. His selection ahead of players such as Anthony Volmink and Sylvian Mahuza is testament to his potential, something coach Johan Ackermann believes will blossom in the coming years.
“This is merely the first step of many great steps he will take for the Lions and for South African rugby,” said Ackermann yesterday.
Tambwe who was born in Kinshasa, is one of 12 changes made to the Lions starting XV following their defeat to Jaguares in Buenos Aires last Saturday.
“We’re obviously very excited about Madosh getting a run,” said Ackermann. “He’s a real talent, an exciting young player.
Lions starting XV:
Andries Coetzee, Madosh Tambwe, Lionel Mapoe, Rohan Janse van Rensburg, Courtnall Skosan, Elton Jantjies, Faf de Klerk, Warren Whiteley, Ruan Ackermann, Jaco Kriel, Franco Mostert, Andries Ferreira, Ruan Dreyer, Malcolm Marx, Jacques van Rooyen. Replacements: Robbie Coetzee, Dylan Smith, Johannes Jonker, Lourens Erasmus, Kwagga Smith, Ross Cronje, Jaco van der Walt, Harold Vorster