The Golden Lions Rugby Union Chief Executive Manie Reyneke have revealed that he has eight World-class coaches’ CVs on his desk – from New Zealand, Australia and England.

Media speculation has named White’s former Springbok assistant coach and current Western Province mentor Allister Coetzee as the front-runner for the position of Super 14 head coach.

However, Reyneke has dismissed the suggestion that they have already decided on a Director of Rugby, the position they advertised this week.

“The applications only close on Friday [October 9],” Reyneke said on Thursday.

“I have eight world class CVs on my desk – from New Zealand, Australia and England. There are also some very, very good applications from within South Africa,” he added.

Reyneke declined to name any names.

“It would be unethical of me to do so,” he said, when asked if Coetzee’s name was amongst those.

The Lions chief confirmed that they will draw up a shortlist of names on Monday and present that to the board.

They are expected to announced the name of the new Director of Rugby by next Friday, October 16.

Reyneke also confirmed that he has a proposal on his desk from the World Cup-winning former Bok coach, Jake White, about the continued involvement of his Winning Ways company with the GLRU.

“I will present the [Winning Ways] proposal to the [GLRU] board and they will make a call [on their continued involvement],” Reyneke said.

White’s company assisted the Lions in the Currie Cup this year and it was at their insistence that Hans Coetzee, a close ally of White, was appointed as an interim coach for the Currie Cup.

Although the Lions have failed to reach the Currie Cup play-offs, the team’s performances – despite having lost a host of their most senior players – have pleased the bosses in Johannesburg.

They had a meeting with White this week, at which he outlined his future plans for the Lions and that proposal will now go to the board.

It would not be a major surprise if that proposal includes a suggestion that the WP head coach, Allister Coetzee, be appointed as the Director of Rugby and Super 14 coach.

According to media reports Stormers head coach Rassie Erasmus has already been informed of Coetzee’s a desire to coach at Super 14 level. Robbie Fleck is also likely to take over from Allister Coetzee as the Stormers’ backline coach next year.

Added to the fact that Allister Coetzee, like his namesake Hans Coetzee, is a close ally of White – having been his assistant throughout White’s four-year term as Bok coach – and it would not be too far fetch to suggest that White’s proposal would include the name Allister Coetzee.

Source + Pic: rugby365.com

Tags: allister coetzee, jake white, lions