Tony Brown has made no secret of his desire to one day coach the All Blacks, but Rassie Erasmus insists that ambition will not affect the Boks any time soon.
The Springbok head coach confirmed that Brown, South Africa’s attack coach, has been open about wanting to return to New Zealand in the future, yet remains fully committed to the Boks until the end of his current contract in 2027. Recent speculation suggesting Brown could leave early, following changes in the All Blacks coaching setup, was firmly played down.
“He has been honest and said he would love to coach New Zealand,” Erasmus said in Cape Town. “But his contract runs until 2027, and he won’t be leaving us before then.”
Brown joined the world champions in 2024 and has quickly become a key part of Erasmus’ management team. While SA Rugby would like to keep him beyond the 2027 World Cup, Erasmus acknowledged that New Zealand could make a move in the future. For now, however, there is clarity and stability within the Bok coaching group, with all senior staff contracted through to 2027.
Erasmus said the early contract talks were designed to remove distractions, particularly in a demanding World Cup cycle. Performance-related clauses form part of the agreements, but the main goal has been to give coaches peace of mind.
With the off-field noise addressed, attention now shifts to the Springboks’ 2026 Test programme, which begins with a tough opening match against England at Ellis Park in the first round of the new Nations Championship.
Erasmus expects a strong challenge from an England side in good form, having won 11 Tests in a row, including notable victories over France and the All Blacks. England will arrive match-hardened after the Six Nations, while South Africa will be returning to Test rugby after a seven-month break.
“That always makes it tricky,” Erasmus said. “We’ll be able to study what England do in the Six Nations, but they won’t know exactly what we have planned.”
The Springboks are expected to play a warm-up match before facing England, with careful player management required due to squad members being spread across different competitions around the world.
With Brown’s situation clarified and preparations under way, Erasmus believes the Springboks are well placed to start their 2026 campaign on solid footing, both on and off the field.
