Bok assistant headed for Ireland - report

Cape Town - Springbok assistant coach Johann van Graan is reportedly set to become the new director of rugby at Irish club Munster.

This was revealed by the Irish Times on Friday, with Van Graan to replace Rassie Erasmus, who is set to return to his home country as SA Rugby’s director of rugby.

The report indicates that Van Graan will join Munster after the Springboks’ 2017 Rugby Championship campaign.

Erasmus’ tenure at Munster will end on December 31, which will allow Van Graan and Erasmus to work together to make the transition as seamless as possible.

Van Graan, who is the son of the Blue Bulls Company’s CEO Barend van Graan, has been Springbok assistant coach since the Heyneke Meyer era.

Van Graan was earlier this year also linked with the top job at the Bulls, before New Zealander John Mitchell was appointed.

Another South African, Dave Wessels - who has been coaching the Western Force and had been recommended by Erasmus - was also on Munster’s shortlist, but he was on Friday revealed as the new head coach of the Melbourne Rebels.