Nienaber's Leinster exit could trigger early Springboks return ahead of World Cup

Rassie Erasmus is closely tracking developments around Jacques Nienaber’s future at Leinster after the Springboks defence coach publicly stated this week that he does not feel valued by fans and media in Dublin. Well-placed sources have told RugbyPass that Nienaber’s anticipated return to the Springbok setup — originally planned ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia — could be brought forward if he leaves the URC club this summer.

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has publicly backed Nienaber, 53, describing the province as fortunate to have him as defence coach and expressing hope that he will see out the final year of his contract, which runs to the end of next season. Nienaber was part of the Springbok coaching staff that delivered back-to-back World Cup titles in 2019 and 2023, and South Africa are targeting an unprecedented hat-trick in Australia.

Elsewhere in the Premiership, Ross Byrne’s move from Gloucester to Perpignan remains unresolved, with the two clubs still apart on the transfer fee for the fly-half’s final two contracted years at Kingsholm. Byrne has not featured since February and has been left out of Gloucester’s final-round squad against Newcastle Red Bulls. The club has already begun identifying potential replacements, with an inside centre who can cover fly-half understood to be on their shortlist.

Bristol Bears head coach Pat Lam has indicated he may not be done in the transfer market ahead of next season, with a second row potentially on his agenda. The departures of James Dun to Harlequins and Steele Barker to Cornish Pirates have left a gap in Bristol’s lock stocks. Lam, who has already secured Sol Moody, Tobi Wilson, Ethan Staddon and Louie Sinclair for 2025-26, said: “You look at our second rows, and you know, we probably still have a space for one more person there, potentially.”

The Scarlets have been linked with a move for former Wales international Gareth Anscombe, who has managed just 165 minutes of rugby for Top 14 side Bayonne this season due to injury. The 35-year-old New Zealand-born fly-half will be a free agent when his one-year contract expires at the end of June. Scarlets director of rugby Nigel Davies is also seeking a tighthead prop, having addressed his lock position by signing 6ft 9in Alex Groves from the Stormers on a one-year deal.

In Super Rugby, cross-code star Zac Lomax is reportedly being considered for a stint in the Shute Shield to maintain his form and readiness for national duty, after Western Force ended their Super Rugby season with a win over the NSW Waratahs. The former State of Origin player scored two tries in seven appearances for the Force.