South African Rugby
Bulls confirm SARU approach for Meyer
ESPNscrum Staff
January 25, 2012
Leicester boss Heyneke Meyer walks the Arms Park pitch, Cardiff Blues v Leicester, Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff, October 25, 2008
Heyneke Meyer is a man in demand © Getty Images
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The Bulls have confirmed that the South African Rugby Union has approached them with the view of asking Heyneke Meyer to replace Peter de Villiers as boss of the Springboks.

Meyer is widely expected to be unveiled as the new Boks coach on Friday but the Bulls have maintained that he is still contracted to them. But in a statement released by the Pretoria-based franchise, they concede that although they want Meyer to stay at Loftus Versveld, they would allow him to take up the post if he requested the opportunity.

The statement read: "At a meeting called by SARU, on Tuesday, 24 January 2012, with the Blue Bulls Company's Board of Directors, SARU informed the Blue Bulls Board of their intention to offer Heyneke Meyer the position of national coach.

"The Blue Bulls Board reiterated its position that Meyer is under contract with the Blue Bulls Company and had appointed Meyer as executive rugby, only after an undertaking and commitment by Meyer to lead Blue Bulls rugby over the next four years.

"It is the Blue Bulls Board's position that it would not be in the Blue Bulls interest to release Meyer after many resources and commitments have been made in order to enable Meyer to fulfill his mandate.

"Should Meyer however decide to accept the position of National Coach, he needs to inform the Blue Bulls board of his decision to abdicate his responsibilities and commitments to the Blue Bulls.

"Although the Blue Bulls board would be disappointed with such a decision by Meyer, the Board has faith in the coaching structures under the leadership of Frans Ludeke in taking the Bulls into the future."

And the SARU, in response to the Bulls' statement, confirmed that they had held talks over the potential appointment of Meyer. The SARU's statement read: "The South African Rugby Union (SARU) confirmed on Wednesday that discussions had been held with Heyneke Meyer regarding his possible appointment as Springbok coach - as disclosed in a media release issued today by Blue Bulls. No appointment has yet been made.

"The Executive Council (Exco) of SARU will be provided with a report back on those discussions at their meeting in Cape Town on Thursday. The Exco is constitutionally responsible for the appointment of the Springbok coach. Their recommendation has to be ratified by a General Meeting of SARU.

"A Special General Meeting will take place in Cape Town on Friday at which the decision of the Exco will be tabled for ratification. The outcome of those processes will be communicated at a media briefing at 14h00 on Friday, as previously advised."

Stormers coach Allister Coetzee has already denied that he is set to take up a role within Meyer's backroom staff, if the former Tigers boss gets the nod by the SARU.

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