News
Hoskins rues Meyer loss
July 01 2008
South African Rugby Union president Oregan Hoskins has expressed his disappointment at losing Heyneke Meyer to Leicester and hopes the coach will return to his homeland soon.
The 40-year-old has signed a three-year deal with the Tigers to replace Marcelo Loffreda after the Argentinian was sacked on June 6.
"It's always disappointing when we lose a coach of that calibre," Hoskins said.
Meyer previously coached South African side the Blue Bulls and had been strongly linked with the Springboks' head coach position before missing out to Peter de Villiers earlier this year.
"Heyneke is a dedicated professional and top-notch coach but we feel it won't be a permanent move and there will always be a place for someone like Heyneke in South African rugby," Hoskins continued.
"We hope he will return soon.
"It's a compliment for South African rugby that our coaches are wanted overseas across the world. As with New Zealand coaches, many of them tend to go overseas first before returning and settling into the national set-up."
Under Meyer's guidance, the Bulls became the first South African team to win the Super 14 title in 2007 and he helped the team to four Currie Cup titles in five years.
Meyer's arrival continues Leicester's recent tradition of appointing foreign coaches, following in the footsteps of Loffreda and Australian Pat Howard.
Loffreda had been a bold choice. He arrived on the back of Argentina's best World Cup finish but Leicester was his first full-time rugby job at any level and he struggled to win over the squad and his assistant coaches.
Leicester lost the EDF Energy Cup Final and squeezed into the Guinness Premiership Final, having almost missed out on the play-offs altogether, but fell to Wasps.
Jake White, South Africa's World Cup-winning coach, and Cardiff's Dai Young were both linked with the post but Leicester chairman Peter Tom described Meyer as the "outstanding candidate".
"We believe he is the man to take Leicester Tigers forward in a crucial time for this club," Tom added.
Meyer will look to appoint an assistant coach after Neil Back left Leicester, his home for 20 years, to become Head Coach at Leeds last week.