Meyer the Bull may be a Tiger
Fri, 20 Jun 2008 14:29
Heyneke Meyer, having been linked to numerous clubs and teams around the world since he quit coaching at the beginning of the year, is apparently on the shopping list of English Premiership club Leicester Tigers.
Meyer, in an exclusive interview with rugby365.com earlier this year, expressed his loyalty to his current South African 'employer' - USN Sport Supplements.
However, this has not stopped media reports from linking him to various coaching positions around the world - including France and Ireland.
The latest report, in the Leicester Mercury, said that Meyer was one of two "heavyweight names" who could be in the frame for the vacant head coach's job at Leicester Tigers.
New Zealand backs coach Wayne Smith and Meyer are linked to the job, as Tigers continue their interviewing process.
Argentine Marcelo Loffreda was relieved of his duties a fortnight ago after just seven months in charge of the powerhouse English club.
Smith, 51, is currently helping All Blacks head coach Graham Henry mastermind England's downfall in New Zealand.
Meyer, 44, quit coaching in January after given up his post with Super 14 franchise the Bulls to chase a Springbok job that ended up going to Peter de Villiers.
According to the Leicester Mercury report Tigers technical director Neil Back has also thrown his hat in the ring this week by claiming that he is "ready for the job", and South African World Cup-winning coach Jake White is also understood to have expressed his interest.
Tigers chairman Peter Tom told the newspaper that there has been a "massive amount of interest" in the vacant position.
He said: "This is one of the biggest rugby clubs in Europe and when a senior position at Leicester Tigers becomes available, it will always attract a lot of interest because we have a high profile and a record of success.
"Since the announcement a week ago that we were looking to appoint a new head coach, there has been a massive amount of interest and we have received a large number of inquiries."
Tom added that applications for the job have come from the United Kingdom, Europe and the Southern Hemisphere. And he hinted that it would take a bit longer than first thought.
"We are in the process of arranging to see a number of the candidates, though this can take some time," he said.
