'They don't value me here' - Jacques Nienaber casts doubt on Leinster future

The former Springbok coach arrived at the Irish giants following the Boks' 2023 World Cup win in France, tasked with providing the defensive edge Leinster need to get over the line in the Champions Cup following a series of failures.

While Leinster did manage to win last year's United Rugby Championship, the Champions Cup trophy has continued to elude them, with their latest failure coming at the hands of Bordeaux last month.

Fronting up to the media in Ireland on Monday, Nienaber made it clear that he did not feel confident in his position at the club.

When asked if he would still be at Leinster next season, the South African referenced a 2025 article from Irish Independent journalist Ruaidhri O'Connor in which he said that Leinster and Ireland had "made a deal with the devil" in recruiting him.

"If, as he says, I'm 'a devil'... then according to him, probably not," Nienaber said.

"Let me put it to you this way. Who fires you? Do you know who fires you? The public, the media, they fire you," he added.

"Not the CEO, not Shane [Nolan, Leinster CEO]. He doesn't fire me, but you guys fire us, fire all coaches, because the pressure builds up and builds up, and the fans then build the pressure on them, and then they [the board] just ask this and say, 'listen lads, I think we must part ways'.

"When I say you guys, I'm saying the media. There's a misconception that people get fired by the CEOs. That is because of pressure put on CEOs by the boards, by people listening.

"Let's say the board member has dinner with his mates and his friends, and they go, 'Sheesh, that Nienaber, you signed a deal with the devil, man'. I'm quoting Ruadhri there: 'You signed a deal with the devil, you need to get rid of that devil, he's killing Irish rugby'. That is how you get fired.

"So your question is, listen, am I going to be here? I hope so, OK. Currently I'm not sure, to be honest.

"I don't think people value me here. They don't value me here. They don't."

Nienaber and head coach Leo Cullen have bore the brunt of the criticism and the South African admitted that the role of the fans will be crucial as to whether he stays.

"It's not for Leo [to value me]. The moment you lose the team or the fan, you've got to go. The moment you lose the changing room or the club, the fanbase you've got to go.

"You could just hang there and take your cheque, but no. They don't want you there.

"I've been here three years, coached two finals and a semi-final of Europe. One semi-final loss, two final losses. URC; semi-final and a final. Won one.

"Listen, I can only fight through results, can't I? I'm asking, am I that s***?"

"You say 'you're making the deal with the devil, this risk isn't paying off'. Are you supporting me?"