Ackermann set to ‘test himself’ in Europe

JOHANNESBURG: Johan Ackermann has said walking away from the Lions would be one of the hardest decisions he’d ever have to make.

The Lions head coach has been strongly linked with the Gloucester coaching position from the English Premiership’s next season, with a decision by Ackermann expected in days.

Ackermann is set to take over from former Brumbies coach Laurie Fisher at the English team, a move that would see him leave the Lions at the end of the current Super Rugby season and more than a year before his current contract expires, at the end of next year.

“To walk away from this is not easy, it’s not a quick decision,” he said after the Lions had hammered the Reds at Ellis Park on Saturday evening.

“Driving here today (Saturday) I was thinking about when Sous (Franco Mostert) joined us from the Bulls in 2013 and his playing his 50th match for us this weekend. Also the fact Robbie Coetzee and Courtnall Skosan joined from the Bulls ... we all got a second chance here.

“The whole decision is a tough one ... the road I walked here from 2013.”

Ackermann took over the head coaching job in late 2012 and had to play outside Super Rugby in 2013 when the Lions were relegated from the competition, at the expense of the Kings, but they were back in 2014 and last year were arguably the best team in the competition, but they lost the final to the Hurricanes. Under Ackermann they also won the Currie Cup in 2015 and were runners-up in 2014.

“The question for me is; where do I see my next challenge? Do I want to coach in Super Rugby for another three or four seasons and believe that will be the best for me as a coach or do I leave this place in a good space and I test myself in Europe ... at Heineken and Premiership level, and grow as a coach over there?”

“My children are here, my wife is happy, it’s my people, my culture, my language, it’s everything you love,” he said. “It’s a rugby decision, but it’s also emotional.”