New members.

Former Munster director of rugby and current Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus has agreed a deal to join the PRO14 Rugby Board.

Erasmus, who guided Munster to a PRO14 final last season, as well as a Champions Cup semi-final, joins the board along with South African Rugby CEO Jurie Roux.

PRO14 Rugby Chief Executive Martin Anayi, Commercial & Marketing Director Dermot Rigley and Tournament Director David Jordan joined Roux and Springboks coach Erasmus at the match between the Toyota Cheetahs and Munster in Bloemfontein on Friday evening, following a series of productive meetings with local stakeholders.

“To have the CEO and the Director of Rugby of another Tier 1 nation join the Board is another important step forward for the PRO14 Rugby and for the relationship with South African rugby,” said Anayi.

“We have made great strides this season in expanding into a new territory in keeping with the DNA of the championship as a pioneering cross-border competition and these appointments only serve to re-inforce that progress.”

Roux said:

“Our expansion into the Guinness PRO14 in 2017 heralded a new era for South African rugby and was one of the most exciting new ventures in a long time in our game.

“I am looking forward to working even closer together with our friends from Wales, Scotland, Ireland and Italy as rugby moves closer to a global calendar and the game becomes even more accessible to new and untapped markets.”

Erasmus said:

“I had the privilege of coaching in the Guinness PRO14, and it found it to be very competitive and hugely popular. To serve on the Board will be a great honour and I am looking forward to working with the other directors.

“The competition has opened a new door to South African players and coaches, with our two franchise teams playing against some of the best players in Europe on a weekly basis and in very different weather conditions. We can only benefit from our involvement in this competition.”