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“The decision to leave was definitely not easy, I didn’t plan on leaving.”
Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber took charge of their final Munster game over the weekend as the southern province demolished the Dragons, before the South African duo head home.
The pair are set to head home and take up roles with the SARU after an 18 month spell with the southern province that saw them reach a PRO12 final and a Champions Cup semi-final.
Speaking after the Dragons win, Erasmus says Munster will always be a part of his life, especially considering everything he went through while a the famous Irish province.
“When I put my wife and my children on the plane home it was a massive thing and it’s tough to do those things and Munster will always be part of my life.” Erasmus said.
For me and Jacques Nienaber it’s very emotional. We went through a lot this year and learned a lot about ourselves and about how people can support one another.
So the rugby I’ll always miss, it’s part of our lives, plus you’ll miss these 43 players plus the management that you’ve really grown close to, and then the fans.
Yeah, it was tough but, you know, so proud of saying ‘I coached Munster’. It’s a nice thing to say and I coached them in good times, so that’s nice.”
When asked about what he will miss most about his time in Ireland, a teary-eyed Erasmus said:
“I think my family, certainly, we’ve grown closer here. In South Africa you get so involved and busy and with flying all over the world and here as a family you flew over here and you just know one another and then you grow much tighter.
It was really good for my family life and my personal life so I think that helped me a lot.”
When asked if he still thinks he made the right decision to leave, Erasmus said:
“The decision to leave was definitely not easy, I didn’t plan on leaving. I got my whole family over here and settled children in school and I convinced Jacques and his wife to come with me and then you convince them to go back again.
You sometimes wonder, some days you’re not sure but you’ll never know if you don’t take the chances in life. It’s tough.”
