Leinster head coach Leo Cullen says he hopes Jacques Nienaber will remain at the Irish club next season.
Nienaber’s future became a major talking point this week after the former Springbok coach admitted he does not feel valued in Ireland and stopped short of guaranteeing he would remain at Leinster beyond this season.
“I don’t think people value me here. They don’t,” Nienaber said ahead of Leinster’s Vodacom URC semi-final against the Stormers in Dublin on Saturday.
The two-time World Cup-winning coach also suggested that criticism from sections of the Irish media and supporters could ultimately influence a coach’s future, referencing claims that Leinster’s decision to appoint him was “a deal with the devil”.
“If people believe that, then maybe they don’t want me here,” said Nienaber, who is contracted until the end of the 2026-27 season.
NIENABER: People don’t value me here
Nienaber has frequently found himself under fire since arriving in Dublin after the 2023 World Cup, with some critics arguing that Leinster have lost some of their attacking edge during his tenure.
The criticism intensified following Leinster’s heavy defeat to Bordeaux Bègles in last month’s Investec Champions Cup final.
However, Cullen has thrown his full support behind his senior coach.
“I’m very hopeful anyway, yeah,” Cullen said when asked if Nienaber would still be part of the coaching team next season.
“Listen, Jacques is brilliant. I have to say I’ve really enjoyed working with Jacques and I think we’ve got a great group of coaches here.
“We’re very lucky to have him in terms of the experience that he has at the top end of the game.
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“It speaks for itself as a double World Cup winner and all the different things that I would research in terms of bringing Jacques here in the first place.
“Everything checks out, he’s a brilliant person, a brilliant individual to work with, and yes, that is very much the plan, for sure [for him to stay].”
Photo: Billy Stickland/INPHO
The post ‘We’re very lucky to have Jacques’ appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Leinster head coach Leo Cullen says he hopes Jacques Nienaber will remain at the Irish club next season.
The post ‘We’re very lucky to have Jacques’ appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
