Jacques Nienaber has moved to clarify his remarks about his future after suggestions that he had shut the door on a return to international rugby.
The former Springbok coach, who guided South Africa to consecutive World Cup victories in 2019 and 2023, is now senior coach at Leinster.
In an interview with the Irish Times, Nienaber suggested that he had closed the chapter on coaching at international level, saying he was enjoying the week-to-week challenges of club rugby, which provides a longer-term approach to player development compared to the short, intense periods of Test rugby.
Nienaber explained that the opportunity to work closely with players over a sustained period, and the freedom to be more creative, is what drew him back to the club game.
However, in a follow-up social media post, the defence guru further explained his position.
“I was asked yesterday in media about life at Leinster and being a club coach day to day… but headlines can be misleading. It is absolutely the right time for me, my family and my coaching journey, and being tested daily, to be here now,” Nienaber posted on X (formerly Twitter).
“But that is not to dismiss what I did before now, what I loved to do before now or to dismiss what might come down the line. But for now, I am happy here at Leinster. My full quotes reflect that. Not the headlines!”.
Nienaber’s contract with Leinster runs until 2026.
Photo: Twitter/@Springboks
