Cape Town - More opportunities at the Springboks loom, but Lions coach Swys de Bruin says he will honour his contract with the Johannesburg franchise.
READ: Lions’ jet lag plan: Going to bed at 01:00!
Earlier this year, De Bruin assisted the Springboks during their Tests against Wales and England as an attack consultant.
He subsequently returned to the Lions and led the team to the Super Rugby final where they will face the Crusaders in Christchurch this Saturday.
There are talks that De Bruin could again join the Boks during the upcoming Rugby Championship, but he gave the assurance that he will remain as Lions coach for next year’s Super Rugby competition.
“My contract expires after next year’s Super Rugby competition and I intend to honour it,” De Bruin told Netwerk24.
De Bruin will however not coach the Lions in this year’s Currie Cup, which means he could again form part of the Springbok management team for the Rugby Championship.
De Bruin earlier this year said he enjoyed his stint with the Boks and believed Rassie Erasmus was the right man to take the team forward to next year’s Rugby World Cup in Japan.
“For me there’s no doubt that Rassie’s on the right track. You can clearly see the focus to be ready for the World Cup and that’s why new combinations are being tested. That’s how things are done," De Bruin said in June.
For the moment, De Bruin is focused on Saturday's Super Rugby final (kick-off 09:35 SA time).
He will name his team on Thursday.
Lions touring squad for Super Rugby final:
Backs
Andries Coetzee, Ruan Combrinck, Ross Cronje, Elton Jantjies, Lionel Mapoe, Howard Mnisi, Courtnall Skosan, Harold Vorster, Aphiwe Dyantyi, Shaun Reynolds, Dillon Smit
Forwards
Ruan Dreyer, Malcolm Marx, Franco Mostert, Marvin Orie, Kwagga Smith, Dylan Smith, Jacques van Rooyen, Warren Whiteley (captain), Cyle Brink, Hacjivah Dayimani, Lourens Erasmus, Corne Fourie, Johannes Jonker, Marnus Schoeman
