Eugene Eloff has been axed as Lions coach sooner than expected. This follows confirmation that senior Lions players had "urgent" discussion about the matter on Wednesday.

The news of Eloff's departure - or redeployment as the Golden Lions Rugby Union calls it - follows a media release on Tuesday that World Cup-winning Springbok coach Jake White's company, Winning Way, will do "a full assessment and audit on the structures of the [Golden Lions Rugby] Union".

As we reported, exclusively, earlier on Wednesday, Eloff has been removed as head coach.

He has been replaced by another local personality - who just like Eloff - has a good track record in junior rugby. Hans Coetzee has been named "interim" head coach of the Lions.

However, we can reveal that White has been earmarked to take over Eloff's position as head coach... maybe even before the start of the Currie Cup competition in July. There was a suggestion that White could be in charge against the British and Irish Lions next week, but that job is in the hands of Coetzee.

Senior players, concerned about developments, had already held urgent discussion on Wednesday.

This website has reliably heard that White's role at the Lions will go beyond just an "audit" and that a fulltime coaching role may well be on the cards.

Eloff's contract with the Lions run until the completion of the Currie Cup season, at the end of October.

However, he has already gone public with the news that he has a number of overseas offers on his desk - including one from the Western Force in Perth.

Eloff, despite reaching the Currie Cup play-offs every year since taking over as head coach from Frans Ludeke three years ago, has never finished higher than 12th - their position this year - in the Super 14.

In a statement released the GLRU said that because of the Lions' performance in the Super 14 this year, they (the GLRU) felt that it was vital to have a complete audit on the whole system and structures within the Union.

"It immediately became apparent that in order for the GLRU to move forward, they would have to make immediate changes to allow for a proper build up for the British & Irish Lions versus Lions game [next week] and the Currie Cup," the statement said.

"For these reasons a meeting was held this morning [Wednesday] with Eugene Eloff, and he was asked to stand down as the senior team head coach with immediate effect. Eloff will be re-deployed within the structures of the GLRU.

"In the interim, Hans Coetzee will take over the reins of head coach.

"Coetzee is a vastly experienced coach who has been in coaching for more than 20 years, during which time he coached, amongst others, the Monument High first team for 18 years, the Lions' Craven week team for eight years as well as SA Academy and SA Schools teams.

"The GLRU is confident that by initiating these corrective measures now and in conjunction with the ongoing audit being conducted by Jake White's company, that we will in due course again become a competitive force in all competitions.

"GLRU Chief Executive Officer, Manie Reyneke also had meeting with players this [Wednesday] morning, whereby the current positions were explained to them."

On Tuesday the GLRU sent out a media release stating that following the Super 14, the Union's directors and executive committee have had "in depth discussions" as to the state of the GLRU.

"Planning the way forward, the GLRU have decided to appoint the company Jake White's Winning Way to do a full assessment and audit on the structures of the union, from senior down to junior level," the statement said.

"There is a great deal of expertise in Jake's company, and due to this, the GLRU feel an audit will be extremely beneficial. With the likes of Eddie Jones [winner of the Super 14 with the Brumbies], Jake White and Derek Coetzee [a World Cup winning conditioning coach], and many more, the GLRU feel confident that we will see dramatic benefits for rugby in Johannesburg.

"After the audit, White's company will make recommendations on how they see the way forward."

365

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