Munster appoint Johan 'Rassie' Erasmus Director of Rugby
As was widely expected, Munster have announced that Johan 'Rassie' Erasmus has been appointed Director of Rugby on a three year deal.
The 43-year-old South African won 36 caps for the Springboks as a player and is currently General Manager High Performance of South African rugby, a position he has held since 2012.
Director Of Rugby Appointed - Johan ‘Rassie’ Erasmus to join Munster on three year deal: https://t.co/QUGEdg0nNw pic.twitter.com/NxPGxqbszF
— Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) April 25, 2016
In a playing career that spanned 8 years Rassie lined out for the Free State Cheetahs and the Golden Lions in the Currie Cup, and for the Cats and the Stormers in the Super 12. He served as captain of the Cats, leading them to the 2000 Super 12 semi-finals, and also captained the Springboks in 1999.
After retirement, Erasmus moved into coaching and guided the Cheetahs to Currie Cup glory in 2005 - the Bloemfontein-based team's first Currie Cup title since 1976.
In 2007, the Eastern Cape native served as technical adviser for the Springboks during their Rugby World Cup winning campaign in France before becoming Head Coach of the Stormers and Director of Coaching at Western Province. Erasmus served a second term as technical adviser to the Springboks during the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand before assuming the General Manager High Performance role.
"We are delighted to announce Rassie Erasmus as Munster Rugby's Director of Rugby,” said Garrett Fitzgerald, Munster Rugby CEO. “In recruiting Rassie we are securing the services of a world-class individual who was the stand out candidate for this newly created position.”
Fitzgerald went into further detail about the role Erasmus will have at the province.
"The Director of Rugby role will lead Munster's senior team, academy and coaches to deliver Munster's Strategic Plan with ultimate responsibility for team performance and results. The role will have overall responsibility for defining on field strategy and ensuring its implementation.
"We look forward to welcoming Rassie at the start of the 2016/17 season in what will be an exciting time for the province as we operate from our new High Performance Centre in UL."
"It is a huge honour to have been appointed by Munster Rugby in the newly created role of Director of Rugby,” Erasmus said.
"It is an opportunity which comes with a huge responsibility not only to the club who has a proud 137-year history, but also the supporters and the wider community.
"It is a challenge which I humbly accepted but with a clear desire to use all my past experience as a player, coach and administrative High Performance manager, to make Munster Rugby one of the top rugby clubs in Europe.”
