{"id":57795,"date":"2026-05-01T12:44:10","date_gmt":"2026-05-01T12:44:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/?p=57795"},"modified":"2026-05-01T12:44:10","modified_gmt":"2026-05-01T12:44:10","slug":"springboks-new-era-next-coach-three-candidates-to-replace-rassie-erasmus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/2026\/05\/01\/springboks-new-era-next-coach-three-candidates-to-replace-rassie-erasmus\/","title":{"rendered":"Springboks new era | Next coach: Three candidates to replace Rassie Erasmus"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script data-jetpack-boost=\"ignore\" async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1669381584671856\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<!-- Africa tv video display -->\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1669381584671856\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"3579572842\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"auto\"\r\n     data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\r\n<script data-jetpack-boost=\"ignore\">\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>As they say, all good things must come to an end. Unfortunately, <strong>Rassie Erasmus<\/strong> won\u2019t be Springboks coach forever.<\/p>\n<p>Erasmus stands among the most successful figures in South African rugby history, with his influence stretching well beyond silverware into identity, culture, and sustained excellence.<\/p>\n<p>He led the Springboks to three Rugby Championship titles (2018\/19, 2024 and 2025), as well as the 2019 Rugby World Cup title in Japan. <\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, he played a central role as director of rugby when South Africa won the 2021 British &amp; Irish Lions series and then went back-to-back with Rugby World Cup success. <\/p>\n<p>This was a defining era in Springboks history.<\/p>\n<p>Attention inevitably turns to the future. <\/p>\n<p>When Erasmus eventually does step away, who takes over from a figure of such magnitude?<\/p>\n<p><strong>ALSO READ: SPRINGBOKS NEW ERA | NEXT CAPTAIN: 3 CANDIDATES TO REPLACE RASSIE ERASMUS<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-next-springboks-coach-three-leading-candidates\"><strong>NEXT SPRINGBOKS COACH: THREE LEADING CANDIDATES<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Erasmus has extended his Springboks contract through to 2031. <\/p>\n<p>That means he will oversee the next two Rugby World Cups with the Springboks. <\/p>\n<p>However, it is hard to see him staying beyond then. At some point, somebody will have to step up and fill his legendary boots as they usher in the era of Springboks rugby.<\/p>\n<p>Here are the<strong> three<\/strong> leading candidates who could take over from Erasmus in the future.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-mzwandile-stick-assistant-coach\"><strong>1. MZWANDILE STICK (ASSISTANT COACH)<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p id=\"h-1-mzwandile-stick-assistant-coach-mzwandile-stick-is-already-embedded-within-the-springboks-setup-making-him-a-natural-successor-his-long-standing-role-as-an-assistant-coach-places-him-at-the-heart-of-the-current-system-philosophy-and-player-core\">Mzwandile Stick is already embedded within the Springboks set-up, making him a natural successor.<\/p>\n<p id=\"h-1-mzwandile-stick-assistant-coach-mzwandile-stick-is-already-embedded-within-the-springboks-setup-making-him-a-natural-successor-his-long-standing-role-as-an-assistant-coach-places-him-at-the-heart-of-the-current-system-philosophy-and-player-core\">His long-standing role as an assistant coach places him at the heart of the current system, philosophy, and player core.<\/p>\n<p>SA Rugby has consistently emphasised its preference for a local coach, strengthening Stick\u2019s case. <\/p>\n<p>Add to that his deep institutional knowledge and years within the national structure, and he presents as a continuity candidate \u2013 someone who would maintain stability while evolving the team.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-deon-davids-assistant-coach\"><strong>2. DEON DAVIDS (ASSISTANT COACH)<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Deon Davids brings a slightly different profile. <\/p>\n<p>Also a key member of the current Springboks coaching group, he combines national experience with prior head coaching exposure at professional level.<\/p>\n<p>That edge matters. <\/p>\n<p>His time with the Southern Kings provided hands-on leadership at the top level. <\/p>\n<p>This is something Stick does not have to the same extent. <\/p>\n<p>In a high-pressure Test environment, that experience could prove decisive.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-franco-smith-glasgow-warriors-head-coach\"><strong>3. FRANCO SMITH (GLASGOW WARRIORS HEAD COACH)<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Franco Smith operates outside the current Springboks structure, but remains a compelling contender.<\/p>\n<p>Now leading Glasgow Warriors, he has built a reputation as one of the sharpest rugby minds in the game.<\/p>\n<p>His transformation of the Scottish outfit into a United Rugby Championship-winning side in 2024 underlines his credentials. <\/p>\n<p>More than that, it showcased his ability to deliver under pressure, adapt tactically, and maximise talent.<\/p>\n<p>Replacing Erasmus won\u2019t be simple. <\/p>\n<p>But South African rugby is not short on strong, credible options. <\/p>\n<p>In fact, I am sure that Rassie himself has transition plans in place to replace himself in the future, such is the mindset of the mastermind and rugby genius.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-who-do-you-think-should-be-the-next-springboks-head-coach-when-rassie-erasmus-leaves\"><strong>WHO DO YOU THINK SHOULD BE THE NEXT SPRINGBOKS HEAD COACH WHEN RASSIE ERASMUS LEAVES?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Let us know your thoughts in the comments below \u2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script data-jetpack-boost=\"ignore\" async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1669381584671856\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<!-- Africa tv video display -->\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1669381584671856\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"3579572842\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"auto\"\r\n     data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\r\n<script data-jetpack-boost=\"ignore\">\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n#Springboks #era #coach #candidates #replace #Rassie #Erasmus<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As they say, all good things must come to an end. Unfortunately, Rassie Erasmus won\u2019t be Springboks coach forever. Erasmus&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":57796,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-57795","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mzansi"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57795","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=57795"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57795\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":57797,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57795\/revisions\/57797"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/57796"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=57795"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=57795"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=57795"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}