Blue Bulls see red as Springboks target Meyer

Heyneke Meyer has been approached by the South African Rugby Union to be the new coach of the Springboks but his Blue Bulls employers are reluctant to let him go.

SARU confirmed last night it held discussions with Meyer “regarding his possible appointment as Springbok coach” but said no deal had been agreed.

Despite Bulls’ resistance, the coach is expected to be announced tomorrow in Cape Town.

Blue Bulls said on Wednesday they did not want to release Meyer from his contract but added they would not stand in his way if he decided to replace Peter de Villiers as the national coach.

The statement prompted SARU’s clarification over its recruitment process. Blue Bulls said their board of directors was informed at a meeting on Tuesday with SARU representatives that the national union wanted to offer Meyer, a Super rugby-winning coach with the Bulls in 2007, the Springboks job.

Meyer signed a four-year contract with the Pretoria-based Blue Bulls last year to be their head of rugby. The team said they would be “disappointed” if he left. “It would not be in the Blue Bulls’ interest to release Meyer after many resources and commitments have been made in order to enable Meyer to fulfil his mandate,” the team said.

Meyer was widely considered the strongest candidate to replace South Africa’s 2007 World Cup-winning coach Jake White in 2008 but lost out to De Villiers. He then left South Africa to coach Premiership outfit Leicester before being resigning a year later to return home for family reasons.

Although De Villiers’ contract was extended by a month to the end of this month by SARU, he is not expected to be retained after leading the Boks through a disappointing Tri-Nations campaign and then a World Cup quarter-final exit last year.

SARU said its executive council would propose its choice for Springboks coach – probably the highest-profile sports job in South Africa – today and it would have to be confirmed at a general meeting of the union.

Meyer only recently emerged as the leading contender after former international players Rassie Erasmus and Ireland forwards coach Gert Smal were tipped as early contenders.

South Africa’s first challenge this year is a three-test home series against England in June. Argentina then joins an extended southern hemisphere championship alongside the Springboks, Australia and New Zealand.