Rassie Erasmus

Rassie Erasmus (born 5 November 1972 in Despatch, Eastern Cape) is the current General Manager: High Performance Teams of SARU in South Africa. Erasmus played mainly as a flanker for the Springboks at international level, for the Free State Cheetahs and the Golden Lions in the Currie Cup, and for the Cats in the Super 12. He served as captain of the Cats, leading them to the 2000 Super 12 semifinals, and also captained the Springboks once.

Erasmus started his professional rugby career with the Free State in the Currie Cup. By 1997 he had been called up for national duties with the Springboks, and made his debut on 5 July against the British and Irish Lions in Johannesburg, which the home side won 35-16. In his next match for the Springboks, on 23 August that same year, Erasmus played the Wallabies, starting at flank, and scoring a try for South Africa in only his second match, which the Boks went onto to win 61-22 in Pretoria. In November he played another four games for the Boks, scoring tries against Italy and France as well.

Erasmus had firmly established himself as a starting flanker for the Boks by the time the international season had come about in 1998. He played three tests prior to the beginning of the Tri Nations that year, playing Ireland twice, and Wales once, scoring a try in two games. He played in three Tri Nations games that year, in the wins over the Wallabies and All Blacks. He earned another four international caps at the end of the year, playing each of the home nations teams.

In 1999 Erasmus moved to the Golden Lions in the Currie Cup. That season, after being capped three times prior to the Tri Nations, he skippered the side in the match against the Wallabies in Brisbane, though the Boks lost 32-6. After the Tri Nations he was off to the 1999 Rugby World Cup, where he played five matches for South Africa.

He was capped six times the following season, and after the Currie Cup, he moved back to the Free State Cheetahs for the 2001 season. He played two tests in 2001, both against France. The Boks lost the first Test, but won the second Test 20-15 in what would be Erasmus' last game for the Boks. When the Central Cheetahs were accepted into the Super 14, Erasmus became their first ever coach in 2006.

With the Springboks falling to five losses in a row, some media sources speculated that Erasmus had been sounded out to take over from Jake White, or at least become involved in some form. Erasmus denied that he ever received a call from SA Rugby.

External links

• Springbok Rugby Hall of Fame