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Cape Town - Former England back Mike Catt has accepted a two-month contract to coach England's backs on their upcoming tour to South Africa.
Sport24 reported earlier this week that the Port Elizabeth-born Catt was expected to be involved in the England coaching team plotting the Springboks’ downfall in the three-Test series on our shores in June.
According the the Mirror.co.uk, Catt sealed the deal with team boss Stuart Lancaster on Thursday and will start work following his final game as London Irish coach next Friday.
Catt's appointment is apparently designed as a stop-gap until World Cup-winning Kiwi coach Wayne Smith arrives later in the year.
However, Smith has yet to confirm he will take the role and New Zealand rugby chief executive Steve Tew insists the NZRU will do everything possible to hang onto the World Cup winning coach.
"We consider Wayne to be an incredible asset to New Zealand rugby, not just the All Blacks but New Zealand rugby full stop," Tew told reporters after a NZRU board meeting.
"He has worked incredibly hard on behalf of this organisation for an extended period of time so he has earned our respect to make whatever decision he wants to make and we are certainly not going to leave him without options, but we are desperately keen to keep him in New Zealand," said Tew.
England play three Tests - the final one in Catt’s birthplace, on June 23 - and two midweek matches on their visit to South Africa.
They will name a 40-strong squad for the SA tour on May 10.
Sport24 reported earlier this week that the Port Elizabeth-born Catt was expected to be involved in the England coaching team plotting the Springboks’ downfall in the three-Test series on our shores in June.
According the the Mirror.co.uk, Catt sealed the deal with team boss Stuart Lancaster on Thursday and will start work following his final game as London Irish coach next Friday.
Catt's appointment is apparently designed as a stop-gap until World Cup-winning Kiwi coach Wayne Smith arrives later in the year.
However, Smith has yet to confirm he will take the role and New Zealand rugby chief executive Steve Tew insists the NZRU will do everything possible to hang onto the World Cup winning coach.
"We consider Wayne to be an incredible asset to New Zealand rugby, not just the All Blacks but New Zealand rugby full stop," Tew told reporters after a NZRU board meeting.
"He has worked incredibly hard on behalf of this organisation for an extended period of time so he has earned our respect to make whatever decision he wants to make and we are certainly not going to leave him without options, but we are desperately keen to keep him in New Zealand," said Tew.
England play three Tests - the final one in Catt’s birthplace, on June 23 - and two midweek matches on their visit to South Africa.
They will name a 40-strong squad for the SA tour on May 10.
