Tony Brown pledges full commitment to Boks despite All Blacks deal
by KickOff Rugby · KickOffSpringbok assistant coach Tony Brown has made it clear that his focus remains 100% on South Africa until the end of the 2027 Rugby World Cup, despite confirming his move to New Zealand Rugby in 2028.
Brown, who joined the Springboks in 2024 and has played a major role in shaping their attacking game, will depart the national setup after the tournament in Australia.
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Speaking about his future, Brown was emphatic about where his priorities lie for the next two years.
“My contract with New Zealand Rugby only begins in 2028, so there is still a long road ahead before that comes into play,” Brown said.
“Right now, I am fully committed to the Springboks. What we are building and trying to achieve as a team over the next two years is my only focus.”
SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer thanked Brown for his professionalism and honesty throughout his tenure.
“We are grateful to Tony for his commitment, loyalty, and honesty throughout his time with us,” said Oberholzer.
“He has made a tremendous contribution to the Springboks and to SA Rugby as a whole since joining us, and we have no doubt that he will continue to give everything he has to help the team maintain the high standards we set for ourselves on the field.”
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Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus also welcomed the clarity, saying he was genuinely happy for Brown while appreciating his transparency.
“Tony has made a remarkable difference, both on and off the field, and he has always been upfront with us about wanting to be closer to his family and about the All Blacks holding a special place in his heart, and we are genuinely delighted for him,” Erasmus said.
“We’ve made the mistake in the past of negotiating contracts in a Rugby World Cup year, and this clarity will allow us all to go full steam ahead with our preparations for this and next season.”
Brown’s will be a loss for the Springboks as his attacking insights have been widely credited with helping the team evolve their style of play.