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Van Graan to leave Springboks for Munster
By Tom Webber
South Africa forwards coach Johann van Graan will take charge of Munster in November on a contract until 2020.
Van Graan is to become the permanent successor to the outgoing Rassie Erasmus, who was named the new director of rugby for South Africa Rugby Union (SARU) last June.
The 37-year-old worked under Heyneke Meyer as the Springboks finished third at the 2015 Rugby World Cup and was part of the backroom staff as Bulls clinched successive Super Rugby titles in 2009 and 2010.
"I am immensely excited and honoured to join Munster and to be part of a club with a unique ethos and history dating back 138 years to 1879," said Van Graan in a Munster statement.
"Some of the words I associate with Munster Rugby are passion, excellence, ambition and integrity, and I feel very fortunate to be handed this opportunity.
"I am looking forward to working with the Munster players, support staff and supporters on this new journey, and to become part of their community."
He added in a separate SARU release: "I was fortunate enough to be part of the Springboks for the past six years and 69 Tests so far, which was an incredible journey up to now.
"The Springboks are a big part of my life and I was blessed to coach some of the best players in the world."
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Latest Comments
Still hiding behind an extremely soft schedule. Why they so scared?
Go to commentsThat's crazy not to understand something as simple as this. The summer tours scheduled by World Rugby coincide with the finales of the Top 14, which means that the best French players are playing the most important matches of their year at that time. It's not a matter of being afraid or uncomfortable with the idea of playing away from French territory, but it's just not the players' priority to go play friendly matches on the other side of the world at that time of the year. Organize international matches wherever you want in October, and you'll see that we'll send our A team. It's not because the southerners keep repeating the idea that we are afraid that we will eventually send the A team next June. As long as the summer tour takes place in June, France WILL NOT send its A team.
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