CJ van der Linde has resigned from his position as Griquas forwards coach before even starting the job.

The former Bok prop, who earned 75 Test caps, accepted the Griquas job on 1 November, before serving as a consultant to Allister Coetzee’s Canon Eagles in Japan.

Griquas CEO Arni van Rooyen confirmed that Van der Linde would be leaving the Kimberley-based union.

‘He received an offer from an overseas team that he felt he couldn’t refuse,’ said Van Rooyen.

Van der Linde said: ‘It makes me sad to have to resign before having an opportunity to work with this group of players. While it was a very difficult decision to make, my family was the deciding factor.’