Former Ireland international hooker Jerry Flannery will leave Gallagher Premiership club Harlequins at the end of the month to take up a role as defence coach with the world champions South Africa and in doing so rekindle a connection with Rassie Erasmus first established at Munster. New Zealander Tony Brown will also join the Springboks as attack coach.
Flannery joins the coaching set-up, one recently vacated by fellow Irishman Felix Jones, who has joined Steve Borthwick’s England set-up as attack coach, the Dubliner’s first game the narrow 27-24 win over Italy at the Stadio Olimpico last weekend.
The 45-year-old Flannery worked under Erasmus at Munster in 2016 and 2017 as scrum, lineout and subsequently forwards coach. The former Irish hooker who won 41 caps and started all five matches in the 2009 Six Nations Grand Slam campaign said in an interview at that time. “What he’s [Erasmus] done is, he’s come in and empowered all of us as coaches.
“He helped develop me as a coach. He brought Felix Jones onboard. He’s brought Jacques Nienaber [defence coach] – who’s one of the best coaches I’ve ever come across in my life – into Munster. He creates an environment where hard work and honesty are rewarded. It genuinely is rewarded. When you look at the way teams have been selected, it’s not always the big names that get selected.”
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Flannery’s last game with Harlequins, currently riding high in second place in the Premiership, is likely to be their friendly against Munster on February 23rd. He joined the London club in 2020 and was part of the coaching team when they won a league title a year later.
Flannery said in a statement: “I have loved my time at Harlequins working alongside a talented young group of coaches and players. The opportunity to move into international rugby and to work alongside Rassie Erasmus again after our time at Munster was very appealing and I would like to thank Harlequins for supporting my desire to take up this opportunity to develop my career.”
Harlequins director of rugby Billy Millard said: “We will be sorry to see Jerry go as he is a big character and can be very proud of his achievements at Harlequins. We wish him well as he moves into international rugby and continues to develop his career. He will always be welcome at The Stoop.
“For the rest of this season, we have a very strong group of coaches and are very fortunate to have assistant defence coach Jordan Turner-Hall with us, and the resources and structure to achieve our goals.”
Flannery and former All Black outhalf Brown, who was previously backs coach with Japan, will complete the Springbok coaching team which consists of Mzwandile Stick, Deon Davids and Daan Human, as well as Andy Edwards as head of athletic performance.
Brown won 18 caps with the All Blacks and was assistant coach with Japan at the 2019 and 2023 World Cups. He has also coached Super Rugby side Otago Highlanders and previously played in South Africa for the Stormers and Sharks.
Erasmus returns as head coach after four years, a role he held when they lifted the World Cup trophy in 2019, before moving to director of rugby as they retained their title in France last year.
He had a heavy hand in that latest success, though, and takes over the position vacated by Jacques Nienaber, who departed for Leinster after the World Cup win in France.
“The main difference between the last four years and this season is that I will be more hands-on at the field sessions,” Erasmus said in a statement from SA Rugby.
“In my role as Director of Rugby I continued to oversee the team structures and strategy in conjunction with Jacques and the other coaches, so it should be an easy transition back into the head coach role.
“With the coaching team finalised, we can now focus on planning for the season and the next few years.”
Former referee Jaco Peyper, who retired last month, will join the team management to assist with interpreting the laws of the game.
Recently retired number eight Duane Vermeulen, who played with Ulster, has joined SA Rugby in what is termed their mobi-coaching unit, which assists various of the different South African national teams.
The Springboks have a two Test home series against Ireland in July but have been in talks with Welsh Rugby about a one-off Test at Twickenham before that. No deal has yet been finalised.
