Gloves are off as Coetzee fumes

In the letter, Coetzee states that he will not accept a demotion to a “ceremonial” role that sees him suffer the “indignity” of reporting to Rassie Erasmus. Erasmus recently took up his position as the new South African director of rugby, and it has become increasingly apparent that he will effectively serve as the new Bok boss.

The under-fire Coetzee has faced ongoing calls to be sacked after the Boks slipped back to sixth place in the world rankings during a 2017 season that yielded just seven wins from 13 Tests, while including record losses to the All Blacks and Ireland.

Overall, the Springboks have managed just 11 wins from 25 Tests under Coetzee. The Springbok coach was expected to undergo a season and performance review around the middle of January, but before this could take place in its entirety, Coetzee allegedly states that he was informed by SA Rugby CEO Jurie Roux that his contract would be terminated. Times Live is in possession of the letter addressed to Roux, and which sees Coetzee lash out at SA Rugby, while accepting little responsibility for the failings of the Springboks over the last two years.

Coetzee alleges that the meeting took place on January 18, when he was misled, before learning his fate. “At this meeting, you [Roux] represented the South African Rugby Union (SARU) and I was represented by Mr Piet Heymans of Sport Employees Unite, although I was also personally present in the meeting,” wrote Coetzee in his letter.

“In the context of the engagements between you and I prior to the aforesaid meeting, it was made plain to me that the meeting would deal with the anticipated performance review and its procedures as contemplated by my employment contract.

“Instead, the meeting was used as a platform to inform me of SARU's decision that it intends to, inter alia, terminate my contract of employment with immediate effect.

“You informed me that the decision was taken by Mark Alexander (president of SARU), Francois Davids (deputy president) and James Stoffberg (vice-president) and mandated you as the CEO of SARU to inform me of the decision.

“You further informed me that a further aspect of the decision is that my services will be terminated regardless of the outcome of the anticipated performance review, as contemplated by my employment contract.

“And, should I wish to remain in SARU's employment, I will be reduced to a ceremonial coach, and further that Johan Erasmus ('Rassie') has already been employed to replace me and is already performing the duties of the Springbok coach. Should I be reduced to the position of a ceremonial coach I would have to face the indignity of reporting to Rassie.”

Coetzee goes on to suggest that SA Rugby had failed to fulfil its contractual obligation of exercising good faith towards him, while he insists he was set up to fail.

“My treatment since my return suggested that elements in SARU embarked on a deliberate attempt to undermine me from the word go and to create the public impression of incompetence on my part whilst wilfully obstructing my efforts to be successful.

“I will not allow elements in SARU to wilfully destroy me and render me unemployable as was done to Peter de Villiers. I am not interested in money and that I will fight to protect my hard-earned reputation which is in the process of being deliberately soiled publicly by elements within SARU.”

SA Rugby has confirmed the authenticity of the letter, but would not comment on the content.

-NAMPA/ANA