Peter de Villiers dismisses reports about resignation from Springboks coaching job – Rugby News
South African Rugby Union’s team head coach, Peter de Villiers, has turned down reports of his resignation as quoted by certain segments of the media. De Villiers denounced his premature retirement from the position while talking to reporters on Monday, October 10.
The 2007 Rugby World Cup (RWC) champion’s title defence campaign came to an end as the 2011 Tri Nations champions, Wallabies, defeated them in the third quarter-final match of the tournament on Sunday, October 8. Following their exit from the RWC tournament, de Villiers was quoted as saying that his “Journey (with the Springboks was) over”.
De Villiers arrived with the rest of the squad on Monday at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. Clarifying his comments, he said, “I never resigned. I just said it was the end of the road for me. There is one logical thing and it is that I had a four-year contract and the day I signed that contract four years back I knew this day would come.”
De Villiers added that his four-year contract will end in December and until then he will remain in charge of the national side. He was appointed head coach, in place of the 2007 RWC coach, Jake White.
White has publically announced his candidature for the role of the Springboks Rugby coach and termed himself as the most suitable person for the role. He has strongly criticized De Villiers for his lack of planning and long-term development of the players.
De Villiers confirmed that the fact that he did not know about his fate as coach of the squad. He added many players came to him to discuss their future in the team but he was unable to entertain their requests, as he himself was unaware of his status in the team.
A number of key Springboks players have already announced their retirement from test rugby. Amongst them is the Springboks’ captain and vice captain, John Smit and Victor Matfield.
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