SA Rugby Locks In Rassie Erasmus With New Long-Term Contract

SA Rugby extends Rassie Erasmus' contract to 2031, securing long-term leadership for the Springboks and stability after their recent World Cup success.

Dec 5, 2025 by Philip Bendon

SA Rugby Locks In Rassie Erasmus With New Long-Term Contract

South Africa has doubled down on continuity at the top of its rugby structure, extending the contract of Rassie Erasmus through to 2031 in a move that cements the architect of two Rugby World Cup triumphs as the long-term steward of the Springboks.

SA Rugby President Mark Alexander confirmed the extension Friday during the governing body’s general meeting, describing the agreement as both a reinforcement of trust and a strategic marker for the next phase of Springbok evolution.

Erasmus, already contracted until 2027, will remain in place for the next six years, carrying his tenure through the 2031 Rugby World Cup in the United States.

“This decision reflects not only Rassie’s remarkable track record of success, but also the enduring impact he has made in shaping the identity of our game,” Alexander said.

He credited Erasmus with driving a unique on-field identity built around physicality, tactical clarity and resilience, while also embedding an internal culture that has underpinned South Africa’s run of historic achievements.

Erasmus was appointed SA Director of Rugby in 2018, before taking the reins as Springboks head coach in 2024. In that time, he has overseen a period of sustained excellence.

South Africa claimed back-to-back Rugby World Cups in 2019 and 2023, won the last two editions of The Rugby Championship and finished each of the last three seasons ranked first in the world.

Alexander said those results reflected more than a winning cycle. He pointed to Erasmus’s ability to stabilize South Africa’s technical systems, maintain alignment with provincial franchises and develop a broader talent pathway that continues to feed the national side.

“Beyond results, his tenure has been defined by vision and consistency,” Alexander said. “He has instilled a culture of accountability, unity and belief that resonates across players, management and supporters. His ability to adapt, innovate and inspire has positioned South African rugby as a benchmark for others.”

Erasmus, a former Springboks captain with a long coaching résumé that includes stints in South Africa and Europe, said the agreement required little negotiation.

“This was a quick and easy conversation to reach an agreement,” Erasmus said. “I have always said that I would find it hard to coach any other international team, and I’m very happy to continue as long as the South African public wants me.”

He thanked SA Rugby and the franchises for support during a period he acknowledged has not always been straightforward.

“It hasn’t always been easy, but we’re improving,” he said.

He added that despite the long-term nature of the contract, the immediate focus remained on a challenging 2026 schedule.

Alexander said extending Erasmus’ deal ensures strategic continuity as South Africa builds toward upcoming cycles.

“This extension is a vote of confidence in Rassie’s proven ability to deliver results, refine our strategy and inspire future generations,” Alexander said. “Together, we look forward to building on this foundation of success, confident that under his guidance, South African rugby will continue to thrive, lead and unite our nation through the power of the game.”

SA Rugby said updates regarding the remainder of the Springboks coaching staff will be provided in due course.

Investec Champions Cup Round 1

Friday, Dec. 5

3 p.m. ET: Sale Sharks vs. Glasgow Warriors, Salford Community Stadium
3 p.m. ET: Bayonne vs. DHL Stormers, Stade Jean Dauger

Saturday, Dec. 6

8 a.m. ET: Saracens vs. Clermont Auvergne, StoneX Stadium
10:15 a.m. ET: Vodacom Bulls vs. Bordeaux-Bègles, Loftus Versfeld
12:30 p.m. ET: La Rochelle vs. Leicester Tigers, Stade Marcel Deflandre
12:30 p.m. ET: Leinster Rugby vs. Harlequins, TBD
3 p.m. ET: Scarlets vs. Bristol Bears, Parc y Scarlets
3 p.m. ET: Bath Rugby vs. Munster Rugby, The Rec

Sunday, Dec. 7

8 a.m. ET: Pau vs. Northampton Saints, Stade du Hameau
10:15 a.m. ET: Toulouse vs. Hollywoodbets Sharks, Stade Ernest Wallon
10:15 a.m. ET: Gloucester Rugby vs. Castres Olympique, Kingsholm

Dec. 7-9 (TBD)

Edinburgh Rugby vs. Toulon, TBD

Investec Champions Cup Round 2

Friday, Dec. 12

3 p.m. ET: Leicester Tigers vs. Leinster Rugby, Mattioli Woods Welford Road

Saturday, Dec. 13

8 a.m. ET: DHL Stormers vs. La Rochelle, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
10:15 a.m. ET: Hollywoodbets Sharks vs. Saracens, Hollywoodbets Kings Park
10:15 a.m. ET: Clermont Auvergne vs. Sale Sharks, Stade Marcel-Michelin
12:30 p.m. ET: Bordeaux-Bègles vs. Scarlets, Stade Chaban-Delmas
12:30 p.m. ET: Munster Rugby vs. Gloucester Rugby, SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh
3 p.m. ET: Glasgow Warriors vs. Toulouse, Scotstoun Stadium

Sunday, Dec. 14

8 a.m. ET: Harlequins vs. Bayonne, Twickenham Stoop
8 a.m. ET: Castres Olympique vs. Edinburgh Rugby, Stade Pierre-Fabre
10:15 a.m. ET: Toulon vs. Bath Rugby, Stade Félix Mayol
10:15 a.m. ET: Northampton Saints vs. Vodacom Bulls, cinch Stadium @ Franklin’s Gardens
12:30 p.m. ET: Bristol Bears vs. Pau, Ashton Gate

Investec Champions Cup Round 3

Friday, Jan. 9

3 p.m. ET: Castres Olympique vs. Bath Rugby, Stade Pierre-Fabre
3 p.m. ET: Edinburgh Rugby vs. Gloucester Rugby, TBD

Saturday, Jan. 10

8 a.m. ET: Vodacom Bulls vs. Bristol Bears, Loftus Versfeld
10:15 a.m. ET: Clermont Auvergne vs. Glasgow Warriors, Stade Marcel-Michelin
12:30 p.m. ET: Leinster Rugby vs. La Rochelle, TBD
12:30 p.m. ET: Sale Sharks vs. Hollywoodbets Sharks, Salford Community Stadium
3 p.m. ET: Scarlets vs. Pau, Parc y Scarlets
3 p.m. ET: Leicester Tigers vs. Bayonne, Mattioli Woods Welford Road

Sunday, Jan. 11

8 a.m. ET: Harlequins vs. DHL Stormers, Twickenham Stoop
8 a.m. ET: Toulon vs. Munster Rugby, Stade Félix Mayol
10:15 a.m. ET: Bordeaux-Bègles vs. Northampton Saints, Stade Chaban-Delmas
12:30 p.m. ET: Saracens vs. Toulouse, StoneX Stadium

Investec Champions Cup Round 4

Friday, Jan. 16

3 p.m. ET: Pau vs. Vodacom Bulls, Stade du Hameau
3 p.m. ET: Bath Rugby vs. Edinburgh Rugby, The Rec

Saturday, Jan. 17

8 a.m. ET: Hollywoodbets Sharks vs. Clermont Auvergne, Hollywoodbets Kings Park
10:15 a.m. ET: Bayonne vs. Leinster Rugby, Stade Jean Dauger
10:15 a.m. ET: DHL Stormers vs. Leicester Tigers, DHL Stadium
12:30 p.m. ET: Toulouse vs. Sale Sharks, Stade Ernest Wallon
12:30 p.m. ET: Munster Rugby vs. Castres Olympique, Thomond Park
3 p.m. ET: Gloucester Rugby vs. Toulon, Kingsholm

Sunday, Jan. 18

8 a.m. ET: Bristol Bears vs. Bordeaux-Bègles, Ashton Gate
10:15 a.m. ET: Northampton Saints vs. Scarlets, cinch Stadium @ Franklin’s Gardens
10:15 a.m. ET: La Rochelle vs. Harlequins, Stade Marcel Deflandre
12:30 p.m. ET: Glasgow Warriors vs. Saracens, Scotstoun Stadium

Investec Champions Cup Fixtures By Pool

Here's a breakdown of the schedule by pool:

Investec Champions Cup Pool 1

Round 1

Friday, Dec. 5 – 3 p.m. ET: Sale Sharks vs. Glasgow Warriors, Salford Community Stadium
Saturday, Dec. 6 – 8 a.m. ET: Saracens vs. Clermont Auvergne, StoneX Stadium
Sunday, Dec. 7 – 10:15 a.m. ET: Toulouse vs. Hollywoodbets Sharks, Stade Ernest Wallon

Round 2

Saturday, Dec. 13 – 10:15 a.m. ET: Hollywoodbets Sharks vs. Saracens, Hollywoodbets Kings Park
Saturday, Dec. 13 – 10:15 a.m. ET: Clermont Auvergne vs. Sale Sharks, Stade Marcel-Michelin
Saturday, Dec. 13 – 3 p.m. ET: Glasgow Warriors vs. Toulouse, Scotstoun Stadium

Round 3

Saturday, Jan. 10 – 10:15 a.m. ET: Clermont Auvergne vs. Glasgow Warriors, Stade Marcel-Michelin
Saturday, Jan. 10 – 12:30 p.m. ET: Sale Sharks vs. Hollywoodbets Sharks, Salford Community Stadium
Sunday, Jan. 11 – 12:30 p.m. ET: Saracens vs. Toulouse, StoneX Stadium

Round 4

Saturday, Jan. 17 – 8 a.m. ET: Hollywoodbets Sharks vs. Clermont Auvergne, Hollywoodbets Kings Park
Saturday, Jan. 17 – 12:30 p.m. ET: Toulouse vs. Sale Sharks, Stade Ernest Wallon
Sunday, Jan. 18 – 12:30 p.m. ET: Glasgow Warriors vs. Saracens, Scotstoun Stadium

Investec Champions Cup Pool 2

Round 1

Saturday, Dec. 6 – 3 p.m. ET: Bath Rugby vs. Munster Rugby, The Rec
Sunday, Dec. 7 – 10:15 a.m. ET: Gloucester Rugby vs. Castres Olympique, Kingsholm
Dec. 7–9 (TBD): Edinburgh Rugby vs. Toulon, TBD

Round 2

Saturday, Dec. 13 – 12:30 p.m. ET: Munster Rugby vs. Gloucester Rugby, SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh
Sunday, Dec. 14 – 8 a.m. ET: Castres Olympique vs. Edinburgh Rugby, Stade Pierre-Fabre
Sunday, Dec. 14 – 10:15 a.m. ET: Toulon vs. Bath Rugby, Stade Félix Mayol

Round 3

Friday, Jan. 9 – 3 p.m. ET: Castres Olympique vs. Bath Rugby, Stade Pierre-Fabre
Friday, Jan. 9 – 3 p.m. ET: Edinburgh Rugby vs. Gloucester Rugby, TBD
Sunday, Jan. 11 – 8 a.m. ET: Toulon vs. Munster Rugby, Stade Félix Mayol

Round 4

Friday, Jan. 16 – 3 p.m. ET: Bath Rugby vs. Edinburgh Rugby, The Rec
Saturday, Jan. 17 – 12:30 p.m. ET: Munster Rugby vs. Castres Olympique, Thomond Park
Saturday, Jan. 17 – 3 p.m. ET: Gloucester Rugby vs. Toulon, Kingsholm

Investec Champions Cup Pool 3

Round 1

Friday, Dec. 5 – 3 p.m. ET: Bayonne vs. DHL Stormers, Stade Jean Dauger
Saturday, Dec. 6 – 12:30 p.m. ET: La Rochelle vs. Leicester Tigers, Stade Marcel Deflandre
Saturday, Dec. 6 – 12:30 p.m. ET: Leinster Rugby vs. Harlequins, TBD

Round 2

Friday, Dec. 12 – 3 p.m. ET: Leicester Tigers vs. Leinster Rugby, Mattioli Woods Welford Road
Saturday, Dec. 13 – 8 a.m. ET: DHL Stormers vs. La Rochelle, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
Sunday, Dec. 14 – 8 a.m. ET: Harlequins vs. Bayonne, Twickenham Stoop

Round 3

Saturday, Jan. 10 – 12:30 p.m. ET: Leinster Rugby vs. La Rochelle, TBD
Saturday, Jan. 10 – 3 p.m. ET: Leicester Tigers vs. Bayonne, Mattioli Woods Welford Road
Sunday, Jan. 11 – 8 a.m. ET: Harlequins vs. DHL Stormers, Twickenham Stoop

Round 4

Saturday, Jan. 17 – 10:15 a.m. ET: Bayonne vs. Leinster Rugby, Stade Jean Dauger
Saturday, Jan. 17 – 10:15 a.m. ET: DHL Stormers vs. Leicester Tigers, DHL Stadium
Sunday, Jan. 18 – 10:15 a.m. ET: La Rochelle vs. Harlequins, Stade Marcel Deflandre

Investec Champions Cup Pool 4

Round 1

Saturday, Dec. 6 – 10:15 a.m. ET: Vodacom Bulls vs. Bordeaux-Bègles, Loftus Versfeld
Saturday, Dec. 6 – 3 p.m. ET: Scarlets vs. Bristol Bears, Parc y Scarlets
Sunday, Dec. 7 – 8 a.m. ET: Pau vs. Northampton Saints, Stade du Hameau

Round 2

Saturday, Dec. 13 – 12:30 p.m. ET: Bordeaux-Bègles vs. Scarlets, Stade Chaban-Delmas
Sunday, Dec. 14 – 10:15 a.m. ET: Northampton Saints vs. Vodacom Bulls, cinch Stadium @ Franklin’s Gardens
Sunday, Dec. 14 – 12:30 p.m. ET: Bristol Bears vs. Pau, Ashton Gate

Round 3

Saturday, Jan. 10 – 8 a.m. ET: Vodacom Bulls vs. Bristol Bears, Loftus Versfeld
Saturday, Jan. 10 – 3 p.m. ET: Scarlets vs. Pau, Parc y Scarlets
Sunday, Jan. 11 – 10:15 a.m. ET: Bordeaux-Bègles vs. Northampton Saints, Stade Chaban-Delmas

Round 4

Friday, Jan. 16 – 3 p.m. ET: Pau vs. Vodacom Bulls, Stade du Hameau
Sunday, Jan. 18 – 8 a.m. ET: Bristol Bears vs. Bordeaux-Bègles, Ashton Gate
Sunday, Jan. 18 – 10:15 a.m. ET: Northampton Saints vs. Scarlets, cinch Stadium @ Franklin’s Gardens

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