FORMER SOUTH AFRICAN international Franco Smith has become the latest candidate to rule himself out of the running to replace Pat Lam at Connacht.
The western province had made contact with the current Cheetahs head coach but the 44-year-old has turned down the chance to move to the Sportsground.
“I told them I am committed to the Cheetahs, but it is true that someone spoke to me,” he told South Africa’s Netwerk24.
Lam will leave Galway at the end of the season to take over the reins at English Premiership side Bristol having enjoyed unprecedented success with Connacht.
The Kiwi coach guided the club to a first-ever Guinness Pro12 title last May and led them back to the Champions Cup this season.
Smith, who won nine caps for the Springboks, has Pro12 experience having coached Treviso for six years before returning home to assume a role with the Cheetahs.
Tony Brown, the Highlanders boss, and the Ireland U20s coach Nigel Carolan have both also ruled themselves out of the running.
The42 Rugby Show / SoundCloud
Subscribe to The42 Rugby Show podcast here:
