Jacques Nienaber reaffirms commitment to Leinster for the remainder of his contract

He has been part of Leinster's backroom staff after stepping down from his position as South Africa's head coach following their triumphant Rugby World Cup campaign in France earlier that year.

Nienaber helped the Irish province to win the 2024/25 United Rugby Championship title and in September he signed a contract extension through to the end of the 2026/27 season with them.

The 53-year-old had a long-lasting coaching relationship with Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus and worked as the Boks' defence coach when they won the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.

The duo also worked together at the Cheetahs, Stormers and Munster prior to joining the Boks in 2018.

During an interview in the build-up to South Africa's Test with Ireland at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin last month, the question over Nienaber's future was once again raised and he said although he is happy at Leinster, he misses working with the Springboks.

However, he has now revealed that those comments were taken out of context.

"The whole interview was actually about my time in Leinster and my last two years here and I was very complimentary of Leinster," Nienaber said in the build-up to Leinster's opening Investec Champions Cup clash against Harlequins at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.

"If you do the due diligence and do yourself the trouble of listening to the whole interview, you'll see the whole context," he said.

"The question was 'how's the job, how's your life in Dublin and I said we really enjoy Dublin. I'm starting my third year.

"I said at the start of your first year, you start to making friends with your neighbours and making friends in Ireland that you actually go on holiday with."

Nienaber expanded on how happy he is with his family in Ireland.

"We really enjoy it," he added. "My daughter is over on holidays from South Africa and my son's got one more subject (exam) on 5 December and then he's joining us.

"We're getting the family together over Christmas time and we're really enjoying Dublin. We enjoy the club, I enjoy working with the players. There's a lot of stimulation."

When questioned on his quotes being taken out of context, Nienaber replied: "I said my contract with Leinster is until the end of the 2027 season, so that's when my contract finishes.

"I think it's common knowledge, it's in the public domain, everybody knows that."

He also explained that any decision regarding his future will be made with his family in mind and he revealed that his wife, Elmarie, is not currently working as a physiotherapist in Ireland.

"I know that I'm the sole provider of my family," said Nienaber.

"So if my contract with expires with Leinster, which I enjoy working with, which I love, which is why I extended my contract…if my contract finishes in June or July 2027, whatever is the best for me to provide for my family and that suits my family, I will definitely look at that because I have to provide for my family."