Rob Houwing, Sport24 chief writer

Cape Town - Springbok assistant coach Gary Gold has been appointed director of rugby for the rest of the season at English Premiership club Newcastle Falcons.

The announcement was made on Thursday, after incumbent Alan Tait opted to take a break from rugby.

Gold has been a key sidekick of Peter de Villiers - almost certainly the outgoing Bok senior coach - during his tenure, heading up the forwards’ duty.

The Bok pack generally performed well at the recent World Cup in New Zealand, although the Boks were knocked out at the quarter-final stage by Australia.

Whether the move to currently battling Newcastle affects his future on our shores remains to be seen, although much will probably depend on who succeeds De Villiers as national coach.

Gold has prior experience of English rugby as head coach of London Irish several years ago; it is where he also cut his coaching teeth some 11 years ago.

He has since also been technical director at the Stormers.

The website www.Rugbyweek.com quoted Gold as saying: “This is an exciting challenge and I am delighted to have the opportunity to work in the Aviva Premiership.

“Newcastle Falcons is a big club with big ambitions and an owner who is very determined so anything is possible.”