John Plumtree has emerged as the main candidate to replace Allister Coetzee as Stormers coach.

Plumtree is currently the forwards coach at the table-topping Hurricanes having also performed that role for Ireland when they won the 2014 Six Nations.

The 49-year-old coached the Sharks for five years, during which time they won the Currie Cup twice (2008 and 2010) and reached the Vodacom Super Rugby final (in 2012).

According to Die Burger, other contenders for the Stormers job were former All Blacks, Force and Lions coach John Mitchell, who currently lives in Durban, Bok forwards coach Johann van Graan, Junior Boks coach Dawie Theron and former Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie.

Coetzee will leave the Stormers at the end of this Super Rugby season to further his coaching career in Japan.

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