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Rassie Erasmus is happy to leave Munster early if asked. Billy Stickland/INPHO
Ready to leave

Erasmus ready to walk away before December if Munster ask

The South African says he will leave tomorrow if the province asks him to.

RASSIE ERASMUS SAYS he will do “the very best” he can over the final months of his Munster contract but added that, if the province finds a new coach and ask him to leave before then, he will.

The South African is set to take up a new role with Rugby South Africa in December but, in an interview with the Munster Rugby website today, said he and defence coach Jacques Nienaber may well leave sooner.

“The reason for leaving in December and not the end of the season is that the South African season works differently from here. In Europe it’s June to May, in South Africa it’s January to November.

The way the whole conversation went with Garrett [FitzGerald] and David [Nucifora], it was never a case of Jacques and I staying for exactly six or nine months, or whatever.

“The priority is finding the right replacement and if that means us staying until October, November or December, so be it, it’s an open discussion.

“I will coach and do my very best for as long as I am here, but if they find a replacement coach tomorrow and say I must go tomorrow, then I will go.

Depending on appointments we may leave at different times, him before me or vice versa. December at this stage is the ideal goal as we feel it will give everyone enough time to prepare, but that is open for discussion.

“We understand that we are in the middle of a contract and Munster are graciously helping us so anything we can do to facilitate Munster we will do.

“Leaving mid-season can cause some uncertainty, but to a degree there was uncertainty as well last season, ‘who are these guys, where are they coming from, how will they handle it?’.

“The squad went on to have a great season and we went on to bolster the squad in all the positions that we had to.”

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