Victorious SA coach 'out of work'
Sun, 29 Jun 2008 22:13
Victorious Emerging South African coach Chester Williams is searching for work again - just weeks after winning the International Rugby Board (IRB) Nations Cup tournament.
Williams, who did a sparkling job with a young team to win the tournament in Romania, is back in the country with no idea what his future may hold.
"I'm looking for work," he told Afrikaans Sunday newspaper Sondag, adding: "I have a few offers from overseas but I'd rather stay in South Africa and I'd love to work a bit from home.
"I enjoyed coaching in Romania, but my children are small and I'd like to be closer to them."
Jonathan Stone, Managing Director of SA Rugby (Pty) Ltd (the commercial arm of the South African Rugby Union), said there was no easy answer to what to do with Williams.
"Chester did well at the tournament even though his side was robbed of the best players he could have taken," he said in reference to the Currie Cup unions withdrawal of most of the top players before the tournament.
"He took on the job thinking he had the best players to work with, but after the Springboks were chosen, the provinces refused to release their players. I have a lot of respect for Chester, and it would be a shame to lose him." Williams team beat Romania in the final to win the tournament for the second year running.
Stones promised that he would look at Williams' situation.
"When the Boks return, I want to sit down with Springbok coach Peter de Villiers, Williams and Sevens coach Paul Treu to look at a common vision. At this moment it is difficult to see if he will become active at one or other of the province because of the complexities of South African rugby."
