Nienaber rules out Leinster role as Springbok reunion with Erasmus edges closer

Jacques Nienaber is not expected to take charge at Leinster next season, with sources in South Africa indicating the World Cup-winning coach is likely to head home rather than replace Leo Cullen at the province.

Nienaber was the architect of South Africa’s back-to-back World Cup triumphs, most recently guiding the Springboks to glory in France in 2023. His potential return to the Springbok setup would see him reunite with director of rugby Rassie Erasmus, who has publicly called for tighter defensive structures after South Africa conceded tries in consecutive Tests against Fiji, South Africa and Argentina during the three Nations Championship. Erasmus has made clear he would welcome Nienaber back as the Springboks target an unprecedented hat-trick of World Cup titles in Australia in 2027.

Elsewhere, Exeter Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter has cast doubt over whether Australia centre Len Ikitau will return to Sandy Park after the 2027 Rugby World Cup. Ikitau spent last season in Devon, making 13 appearances and scoring four tries, but Baxter has since recruited Will Butt from Bath and confirmed Dallas McLeod will join following the NPC. “We had some very early discussions, but it’s probably too early to say any more than that. We brought in Dallas, and we’ll see how our young players go, because that may have sealed off the squad for Len,” Baxter said.

England captain Maro Itoje has opened up on the difficulty of switching off during his summer break, admitting he tracked the three Nations Championship results against Fiji, South Africa and Argentina — even crossing paths with the England squad at Heathrow Airport on the day they returned from South Africa. The Saracens lock chose not to watch the matches live, instead catching up on them later to manage the emotional load. “I wanted to remove some of the emotion from watching it. When you are watching a game live, you are in every nook and cranny, every tackle, but that also probably has a hidden emotional weight. And the actual purpose of the break was to get back on an even keel,” he said.

Sale Sharks have opened preliminary talks with England flanker Tom Curry over a contract extension. Curry, along with twin brother Ben, entered the final year of his deal in July, making both players free to speak with rival clubs. The pair have combined for more than 300 appearances for the Sharks since joining over a decade ago, and the club is keen to secure Tom’s commitment beyond the 2027 World Cup.

Harlequins have bolstered their squad for the opening PREM Rugby Cup fixture against Leicester Tigers by signing Army Rugby Union prop Sitiveni Vasuturaga on a short-term deal. Vasuturaga trained with Quins throughout pre-season and drew attention after scoring in the 2026 Inter Services Championship at Twickenham.