Jacques Nienaber: 'I wouldn't go back to international rugby, I like the development and stimulus at club level'

Currently contracted to Leinster until 2026, the defence specialist outlined a couple of key differences between international and club rugby that have helped to make a switch to the latter worthwhile

Senior coach Jacques Nienaber during Leinster rugby squad training session at UCD

While there is a side of him that misses the thrill of the international test arena, Jacques Nienaber insisted yesterday that he is more than content to be working in club rugby as Leinster’s senior coach.

When Ireland kick-started their most recent Autumn Nations Series campaign on November 5, 2022 at the Aviva Stadium, Nienaber was in the opposition corner as head coach of South Africa. Having helped them to secure the title in 2019 as an assistant coach, he went on to steer the Springboks towards a successful defence of their Rugby World Cup crown in France last year.