Flannery set to rejoin Erasmus in Boks set-up
HARLEQUINS defence coach Jerry Flannery is to leave the Gallagher Premiership club to take up a position with world champions South
Africa.
The former Ireland and Munster hooker will depart after the highprofile friendly clash with Munster on February 23 to join forces with Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus once again.
Flannery, who joined Quins in 2020 and was part of the coaching team who led them to a league title a year later, said in a club statement: ‘I have loved my time at Harlequins working alongside a talented young group of coaches and players.
‘The opportunity to move into international rugby and to work alongside Rassie Erasmus again after our time at Munster was very appealing and I would like to thank Harlequins for supporting my desire to take up this opportunity to develop my career.’
Harlequins currently lie second in the table behind Northampton and are confident they can plug the gap left by Flannery.
Director of rugby Billy Millard said: ‘We will be sorry to see Jerry go as he is a big character and can be very proud of his achievements at Harlequins.
‘We wish him well as he moves into international rugby and continues to develop his career. He will always be welcome at The Stoop.
‘For the rest of this season, we have a very strong group of coaches and are very fortunate to have assistant defence coach Jordan Turner-Hall with us, and the resources and structure to achieve our goals.’
Erasmus has been confirmed as returning to South Africa in the head coach role following the departure of Jacques Nienaber to Leinster.
Erasmus was head coach for South Africa’s 2019 World Cup victory and had been director of rugby when the Springboks successfully defended their title in France last October.
‘It is a massive honour to coach the Springboks, and I am grateful for the trust placed in me,’ Erasmus, 51, told the South Africa Rugby Union website.
‘The main difference between the last four years and this season is that I will be more handson at the field sessions.
‘In my role as director of rugby in the last four years I continued to oversee the team structures and strategy in conjunction with Jacques and the other coaches, so it should be an easy transition back into the head coach role.
‘We already had our first coaching session this week and it’s great to see the enthusiasm among the coaches to get the season under way.’
Erasmus will lead a modified coaching team in the absence of Nienaber and attack coach Felix Jones, the former Munster and Ireland full back who left to join England after South Africa’s 2023 World Cup triumph — his second as part of the coaching team.
Flannery will take charge of South Africa’s defence, while exAll Black fly-half and Highlanders head coach Tony Brown will focus on attack.
Recently retired international referee Jaco Peyper also joins the Springboks set-up as national laws adviser.
SA Rugby president Mark Alexander said: ‘We believe that with the continuity in the coaching structures and the exciting additions, we are in good hands in the ultimate objective of claiming a hat-trick of World Cup titles.’
South Africa are next in action with a two-Test home series against Ireland in July.
“International
rugby is very appealing”