Erasmus doubts Van Graan will join Munster

Cape Town - Rassie Erasmus is doubtful whether his role as Munster's director of rugby will be filled by Springbok assistant coach Johann van Graan.

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Erasmus, who will step down from his role at the Irish club at the end of the year to become SA Rugby’s director of rugby, revealed that he wanted to work alongside Van Graan, who coaches the Springbok forwards, and also said he doubts whether SA Rugby would release him to take over at Munster.

The Irish Times reported last week that Van Graan would become Erasmus’ successor at Munster.

Erasmus is however not so sure.

“He is someone that I would like to work with, with the Springboks,” Erasmus told the Irish Times.

“I’m not working there yet and to be honest with you, I don’t even have contact with the guys who are currently there because they are in the middle of the Rugby Championship and then they are going on their European tour. I’m not involved at all at this stage.

“What Munster are doing for me and giving me the opportunity to go back and work at that level - if a person’s dream is to come to Munster and become a head coach, which is a fantastic job and it’s a job where it maybe takes you to the next level. If that’s something that will make the club better and that person better, it would be stupid to stand in his way because he’s a young guy.

“In that regard I understand it, but I also understand the big role he plays in the Springboks set-up. Luckily, it’s not my decision because I wouldn’t know what to do.”

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.

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