'I can use that six-month thing': Nienaber drops Leinster future hint
SPOTLIGHT: Former Springbok head coach Jacques Nienaber is making headlines with the latest update on his future at United Rugby Championship Irish club Leinster.
The double World Cup-winning coach left the Springboks following the 2023 World Cup in France to join Leinster as senior coach.
However, with Leinster’s current head coach Leo Cullen set to step down at the end of the 2026/27 season, Nienaber has reportedly been among those linked with the position.
Argentina coach Felipe Contepomi is the other high-profile name linked with the post.
There has also been speculation that Nienaber could return to the Springboks management set-up ahead of the 2027 World Cup, as he has a six-month break clause in his contract in Ireland.
Asked on the Roadshow Series with Off The Ball if there was a chance that 2026/27 would be his last season at Leinster, Nienaber stated: “You want me to go? You want me gone? I can use that six-month thing…
“No, it’s an ongoing process, like everybody would say.
“We will have to wait and see how things work out, and when everybody is aligned, all the stakeholders are happy and aligned, then they’ll probably announce whatever is going to happen going forward.”
It has now been nearly three years since Nienaber was the head coach who helped the Springboks to three one-point knockout-stage victories at the World Cup 2023.
“When I came over here [to Dublin], it was [because] I wanted to spend more time with my family.
“With the Springboks, you are on average between 150 and 170 nights not in your bed [a year] because they don’t have a home base, so they travel a lot.
“With Leinster, we are probably 50 days not in our own beds. You do a lot of travelling but you are home a lot, so that was nice.”
Leinster begin their URC title defence against the Lions at Ellis Park on September 26 before travelling to Durban to face the Sharks on October 3.
Source: Off The Ball
