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De Bruin resigns as Bok assistant coach

rugby14 August 2019 05:30| © SuperSport
By:Brenden Nel
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Swys de Bruin © Getty Images

The Springboks were dealt a massive blow on Wednesday when it was announced that assistcoach Swys de Bruin had resigned from his position as attack coach.

The shock announcement was made Wednesday morning after De Bruin advised the Bok management Tuesday that he wished to be released from his role as an attack consultant with the team.

De Bruin made the request for “personal and medical reasons” and wished the team every success for the Rugby World Cup.

“Swys made a great contribution to the squad in his time with us and I’d like to thank him on behalf of his fellow management and the players he has worked with in the past 12 months,” said Rassie Erasmus, SA Rugby’s director of rugby.

“He brought a fresh perspective to one facet of the game and he’ll be hard to replace. I’d also like to thank the Lions Company PTY for releasing him to us and SA Rugby for supporting his appointment.”

De Bruin returned home after the Springboks drew with New Zealand in Wellington, marking the second time this year he has returned from New Zealand for medical reasons.

He was not involved in the preparations for the Salta game, where the Springboks won the Rugby Championship, and is not currently involved in preparations for Saturday’s test match against Argentina at Loftus Versfeld.

But the decision could not have been an easy one for De Bruin, who had previously said it was his dream to go to the World Cup and coach with the Springboks there.

It is also now unclear what this means for his tenure as the Emirates Lions Super Rugby coaching position.

De Bruin declined to comment when contacted by Supersport on the matter, other than the press release put out by the Springboks. Erasmus said he would consider a number of options before naming a specialist replacement coach on a short-term basis.

Erasmus said: “This was not something we were expecting but our planning has been thorough and it’s something we can manage.”

De Bruin returned home from New Zealand during the Lions’ Super Rugby tour in April, leaving the side to complete their tour before rejoining them when they returned home.

At the time, De Bruin denied there was a fallout within the camp, but that he had returned home to take care of a “medical condition”.

De Bruin was dealing with a stress-related condition but was adamant at the time he did want to go to the World Cup.

“I can guarantee you there has been no breakdown in the relationship between me and anyone in the team or at the union,” said De Bruin at the time.

“There has been no interference, no-one has prescribed to me what to do, and no pressure has been put on me.”

De Bruin added the players in the Lions squad were aware of his “medical condition” and supported him fully.

“This is a personal matter and I am receiving professional help for it. It was our team doctor (Rob Collins), after I’d first spoken to my wife and (Lions CEO) Rudolf Straeuli, who actually said it would be best for me to return home. It was in my and the team’s best interests.”

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