Why there will never be another Rassie Erasmus in World Rugby
Rassie Erasmus, the maverick and arguably the best current rugby coach in the world, is celebrated in South Africa for his innovative tactics and leadership, including the Springboks’ unbeaten 2025 season, but often faces international criticism and his controversial social media posts. Picture: Michael Sherman/IOL
Image: Michael Sherman/IOL
There’s no disputing that Rassie Erasmus is the maverick coach in world rugby, and also probably the best in the game at the moment.
If you’re South African, Rassie Erasmus is widely regarded as the best Springboks coach ever. However, internationally and in Ireland in particular, credit for Erasmus is not as forthcoming.
In 2025, the Springboks not only defended their Rugby Championship title but also went unbeaten on their November European Tour.
That included victory over France, and most significantly, a victory over Ireland in Dublin for the first time since 2012.
Erasmus in 2026 News: Off-Field Issues, Coaching Changes, and Social Media Antics
In 2026, Erasmus has been in the news for off-field issues involving assistant coach Tony Brown.
Two weeks ago, Scott Robertson was fired as All Blacks coach, and the unexpected turn was that Brown was linked with a possible move back to his homeland.
Jamie Joseph is the top candidate to take over as head coach of the All Blacks according to reports.
This is significant because it was reported that only Erasmus has signed a new contract with the Springboks, and not his assistants.
Before Brown had the chance to confirm he is not going anywhere (which he later did), Erasmus posted a tongue-in-cheek AI-generated video on social media with Brown’s face superimposed on Leonardo DiCaprio during a scene from The Wolf of Wall Street where he said: “I’m not ****ing leaving”
It was a playful way for Erasmus to have his say on the matter that affected him directly, even though many did not approve of the way he did it.
But that’s just it, Erasmus has never been orthodox.
Erasmus’s Controversial Tactics and Brilliant Strategies in Rugby
Who can forget when Erasmus donned the waterboy bib to find a loophole in World Rugby’s rules as he made his way onto the pitch? He didn’t have to do that, as he could radio the actual waterboys and get his message to his players just as effectively.
Then there were the flashing green and red lights from the coaching box, as he found another loophole about communication with his players.
Of course, there was also the controversial leaked video where he tore the officiating of referee Nic Berry to shreds in 2021. Whether this video was ever meant to be seen by the public is still debated, and that was one of the many times Erasmus landed himself in hot water.
Often controversial, sometimes he misses the mark, but he’s always brilliant.
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