Cape Town - Despite a trip to Japan, it appears Jimmy Stonehouse is not lost as a coach to South African rugby.
The Pumas mentor is currently in Japan at the Toshiba Brave Lupus club and rumours have been doing the rounds that he could sign a coaching deal with them.
However, Stonehouse told Netwerk24 via SMS that he will remain the Pumas coach in 2015. He said he is there to visit a friend, Australian Joe Barakat, who is Toshiba's forwards coach.
Barakat asked Stonehouse to conduct a training camp for the team in Kagoshima, with Stonehouse insisting it's not a permanent venture.
Pumas president, Hein Mentz, said they know about Stonehouse's trip and have approved it.
"We have an agreement with Jimmy which cannot be made public. Therefore, I can't tell you if he'll coach the Pumas next year. If I discuss it with the media, then you'll probably also want to know what he's earning!"
Stonehouse has impressed in his time at the Pumas, helping them win the 2013 Currie Cup First Division as well as gain promotion for this year's event, in which the Pumas finished sixth overall, bagging four wins from their 10 games.
Stonehouse was also named South African rugby's Coach of the Year in 2013.
The Pumas mentor is currently in Japan at the Toshiba Brave Lupus club and rumours have been doing the rounds that he could sign a coaching deal with them.
However, Stonehouse told Netwerk24 via SMS that he will remain the Pumas coach in 2015. He said he is there to visit a friend, Australian Joe Barakat, who is Toshiba's forwards coach.
Barakat asked Stonehouse to conduct a training camp for the team in Kagoshima, with Stonehouse insisting it's not a permanent venture.
Pumas president, Hein Mentz, said they know about Stonehouse's trip and have approved it.
"We have an agreement with Jimmy which cannot be made public. Therefore, I can't tell you if he'll coach the Pumas next year. If I discuss it with the media, then you'll probably also want to know what he's earning!"
Stonehouse has impressed in his time at the Pumas, helping them win the 2013 Currie Cup First Division as well as gain promotion for this year's event, in which the Pumas finished sixth overall, bagging four wins from their 10 games.
Stonehouse was also named South African rugby's Coach of the Year in 2013.