Rassie Erasmus has made himself unavailable for the Springbok head coaching position.
Erasmus, the SA Rugby high-performance general manager, had emerged as the leading candidate to take over from Heyneke Meyer on an interim basis for the Boks' June Tests against Ireland. But according to Netwerk24.com, he informed SA Rugby's executive committee earlier this week of his decision to withdraw from the race to become Bok coach.
With Erasmus out of contention, the only other name associated with the vacancy is Allister Coetzee, head coach of the Kobe Kobelco Steelers in Japan.
The former Stormers boss, who is in Cape Town at the moment, was confirmed to still be in contention for the job when SA Rugby president Oregan Hoskins sent out an email to committee members, telling them to add Coetzee's name to the candidates list.
The new Bok coach is expected be named in April, leaving him just over two months to prepare for the series against Ireland.
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