Former Bok Coach Retained By Irish Side

Leinster Rugby has announced that Jacques Nienaber has extended his contract with the club until the 2026/27 season

Nienaber’s Journey to Ireland

Nienaber joined the Irish side as the senior coach after helping the Springboks win back-to-back Rugby World Cups in 2023.

At the time, Nienaber was the Springboks’ head coach before being replaced by Rassie Erasmus, who had been the South African Rugby Union’s (SARU) director.

Interestingly, Nienaber had previously replaced Erasmus as head coach after serving as the defense coach during the Springboks’ 2019 World Cup victory.

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen praised the work of his coaching staff, including Nienaber. “I think we can all appreciate the work that Robin [McBryde], Jacques, and Tyler [Bleyendaal] have done but also the mark that they have left and are leaving on Leinster in their time here,” Cullen said.

“They have all brought tons of relevant experience and a different perspective to how we do things, and I think that’s hugely important for the development of our group.”

Cullen also announced that Emmet Farrell, the club’s long-serving performance analyst, will be taking on a new role as kicking coach. “I am also delighted for Emmet… someone who has been a key part of the success of this club on and off the field for more than 20 years that he gets an opportunity to continue to grow as a coach,” Cullen added.

The coach noted that Farrell’s new role would create opportunities for others to advance within the organization, highlighting Brian and Juliette Fortune, who both started with the club as interns and are now moving into more senior positions.

Leinster, which is home to Springbok lock RG Snyman, won the Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) last season after defeating South Africa’s Vodacom Blue Bulls in the final.