Erasmus takes over Boks

Rassie Erasmus has taken over as Springboks head coach, signing on with South African rugby on an unusually long six-year contract, taking them through the next two World Cups.

Erasmus, who played 36 tests for the Springboks from 1997-2001 and captained his country in one test, replaced Allister Coetzee, who left as head coach last month halfway through his contract following a dismal two years with the team.

As well as taking over the national team, Erasmus will also retain his title as director of rugby for the national union SA Rugby, a job he started at the end of last year after being wooed back following a short but successful time coaching in Europe.

Erasmus, 45, has also coached in domestic and Super Rugby in South Africa. He worked recently as director of rugby for Irish club Munster, where he won the 2017 coach of the year award in Europe’s

Pro12 tournament. Erasmus is regarded as an innovative and imaginative coach and once, early in his coaching career, had a habit of sitting near the top of the stadium during games and using a collection of lights to communicate instructions to his team.

He also has a reputation for preferring to work in the background rather than in the spotlight and apparently dislikes media appearances.

Erasmus’ Springboks contract will be until after the World Cup in

2023, the longest contract given to a Springboks coach in the professional era.

‘‘I am very privileged,’’ Erasmus said in a statement.