Rudolph Lake

Johannesburg – The dismissal of Golden Lions Rugby Union (GLRU) coach Eugene Eloff has thrown into doubt the union’s match against the British and Irish Lions next week as several players are considering striking.

Unhappy senior players have threatened to boycott the match on June 3 in Johannesburg against the touring Lions unless Eloff is allowed to coach the team for the match.

Hans Coetzee was on Wednesday appointed as Eloff's replacement. Coetzee coached the Monument High School first team for 18 years and was also the Lions’ Craven Week coach. He is also currently in charge of the GLRU schools and junior clubs.

However, Manie Reyneke, the executive official of the GLRU was on Wednesday night unaware of a possible players’ strike.

“The players’ request that Eloff be kept on as coach for the match against the British and Irish Lions was turned down. The decision was on Wednesday afternoon communicated to the team’s captain.”

“As far as I’m concerned, the team will begin practicing on Thursday morning for the match against the British Lions and Hans Coetzee is the new coach,” said Reyneke when approached by Sport24.

The resignation of Eloff followed an investigation by former Springbok coach, Jake White, into the structures in place at the GLRU.

White apparently found that “changes should be brought immediately if the GLRU wants to move forward”.

The GLRU called in White over the past week after the team’s disappointing performance in the Super 14.

According to a reliable source, White on Monday spent only a “short while” at Coca-Cola Park, after which the “professional committee” recommended the dismissal of Eloff to the union’s executive committee, based on White’s “findings”.

The axing of Eloff was communicated to the players on Wednesday morning, but they held a meeting after the announcement and demanded that Eloff be kept on at least until after the British Lions game.

This demand was relayed to Reyneke, who turned it down. Afterwards several senior players told Sport24 exclusively that they were, as a result, considering a strike.

The players have accused the GLRU management of “dishonesty”. They said they were assured on Monday morning that Eloff's job was safe, but a mere two days later they were informed of his immediate dismissal.

“We stand together as a team and will not play against the British Lions if Loffie is not the coach,” said one of the most senior Lions players.

Meanwhile, on top of the coaching crisis, the GLRU is also facing a mass player exodus.

Lock Anton van Zyl has signed for Western Province, flank and former captain Ernst Joubert will join Saracens in England in next month while Bok star centre Jaque Fourie is likely to head to France. André Pretorius, Jano Vermaak, Willem Alberts and Doppies la Grange have all received offers from other clubs.