REPORT: Felix Jones has turned down an offer from Rassie Erasmus to join the Springboks coaching ticket

In a report in The Irish Independent, Rugby writer Cian Tracey, has claimed that Munster’s back and attack coach Felix Jones has turned down an opportunity to work with Rassie Erasmus’ South African set up.

This isn’t the first time Munster’s former director of rugby has poached one of the province’s backroom staff with, the announcement that head of Athletic performance, Aled Walter, will join the Springboks set up in March this year following a highly regarded six years with the side.

According to Tracey, Walters wasn’t the only name on Erasmus’ list with the former Cheetahs boss making an approach for Jones to become the next skills coach for the Springboks.

The former International full back however declined his approach seeing as he had only signed a new two year contract with the Province last summer.

The backs coach is now an integral part of Munster’s backroom team having moved into to coaching with the province at the start of the 2016/17 campaign after he was forced to retire through injury.

When Erasmus’ decided to return home mid season to take up a dream role with the South African rugby union , Jones, as well as Jerry Flannery, took over his coaching responsibilities when new head man Johan Van Graan first arrived in the country.

Since he has become a member of the two time European champions coaching ticket, the former Leinster player has impressed in his role and even went on tour with Joe Schmidt’s Ireland during their summer visit of Japan.

In the report, it is claimed that the Province are disappointed with Erasmus’ approaches for some of their coaching staff but there is still quite a strong relationship there, so much so, again according to today’s piece in the Independent from Tracey, that there has even been preliminary talks between the two sides to stage a challenge match some time in the future.