Cape Town - Hurricanes assistant coach John Plumtree has confirmed that the Stormers approached him with the possibility of succeeding Allister Coetzee as head coach.
Coetzee will leave the Stormers after this year's competition to take charge of the Kobe Kobelco Steelers in Japan.
A media report earlier this week linked Plumtree to the Stormers job and the former Sharks mentor confirmed to the Stuff.co.nz website that he was approached.
However, Plumtree said he hasn't spoken directly to anyone from Stormers or had time to consider the offer.
Plumtree said the offer had come through his agent and he hadn't had time to discuss it with his full focus on preparing the Hurricanes for their Super Rugby match against the Chiefs in New Plymouth on Saturday, as well as making plans for a home semi-final in two weeks’ time.
Plumtree is contracted along with Hurricanes head coach Chris Boyd until the end of 2016 at the Wellington-based franchise.
Plumtree, 49, coached the Sharks between
2008 and 2013 before being shown the door when John Smit took over as CEO of
the coastal franchise. After that, he became forwards coach of Ireland, before returning to New Zealand.
Other names mentioned to possibly succeed Coetzee as Stormers coach include Springbok forwards coach Johan van Graan, Junior Springbok coach Dawie Theron and former Wallaby mentor Ewen McKenzie.