Discarded Golden Lions coach and former South African Under-19 mentor Eugene Eloff revealed on Wednesday that he declined several offers from abroad to take up the position as Director of Rugby at Boland.

Eloff, axed as Lions coach in controversial fashion in June when Jake White's Winning Ways company was called in to do an 'audit', has just been confirmed as the new coaching boss of an underfire Boland Cavaliers team.

Following a two-match promotion/relegation series in which the Pumas beat the Cavaliers 75-39 on aggregate - 40-3 and 35-36), the Boland outfit dropped out of the Currie Cup Premier Division to the second tier competition.

But that does not concern Eloff, who replaces Chester Williams as the Boland's head of coaching, after Williams failed to save the union from dropping down - despite using a raft of loan players from Western Province.

Williams - who will not be involved with Boland anymore - saw the union embroiled in a legal battle with previous coach Deon Davids, who decided to sue them for R1-million after only learning of Williams' appointment minutes before he arrived at training one day.

Eloff, who departed from the Golden Lions in similar acrimonious circumstances, sees his move to Boland as an "exciting new challenge".

Overseas offers

He admitted that he had several offers from abroad on his table - with agents from English Premiership club London Harlequins, as well as Irish provinces Leinster and Connacht having made overtures in his direction.

But, Eloff told this website that job satisfaction weighed heavier than a possible big bank balance and that is why he opted to stay in South Africa.

"I have a lot to still offer South Africa," said the man who took his country's Under-19 team to a world championship title.

"I am really looking forward to moving to the Western Cape, having lived all my life in Gauteng," he said, adding: "It is a very big challenge, but I know what talent they have there [in Boland]. They have over 100 clubs."

He felt that Boland's traditional expansive style of rugby would also suit his coaching style.

"I want to start building a good foundation and get the union back to where it belongs," Eloff told this website, adding that he would not be making any promises of instant success at the union.

"I want to see Boland play exciting rugby and get the crowds back, but it will take time," he warned. "However, they have a great management team. Francois Davids [the Boland Rugby Union President] and myself go a long way back."

And speaking about his new challenge, as opposed to following the familiar path abroad, he added: "I could have taken up those [overseas] offers, but I would much rather add value at a so-called 'smaller union' here in South Africa.

"That, to me, would be much more fulfilling than looking at a big bank balance."

Eloff will also work closely with Western Province Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus, which could see the region once again establish itself as not only a powerhouse of South African rugby, but - possibly also - fill up the trophy cabinets in years to come.