Reports are emerging that claim David Wessels will sign with Irish province Munster.
This would mean that the Melbourne Rebels may be forced to go back to the drawing board in their hunt for a new coach, as they have been very keen to reel in the 36-year-old South African from the Western Force.
The Irish Independent claims Munster will confirm Wessels as their new director of rugby soon.
Wessels first emerged as a target for the Rebels after the Western Force were axed from Super Rugby. If reports are correct, he may have been tempted by Munster, who are seeking a replacement for the departing Rassie Erasmus, and he was reportedly in Ireland last week for a job interview.
Former ARU high-performance boss and current Irish Rugby Football Union’s performance director David Nucifora claims Munster are “close” to completing the deal.
If Wessels opts to join Munster instead of the Rebels, they would have to scramble to find a new coach just five months out from the new Super Rugby season and leave their recruitment plan in a shambles.
Off-contract Force players, including Wallabies lock Adam Coleman and utility back Dane Haylett-Petty, could join Wessels at his new destination, wherever it may be.
“I’m hopeful we will have an answer to this sooner rather than later so we can engineer a really well-delivered handover between the two coaching groups,” Nucifora said according to TheRoar.com.au.
“We’re making good progress.
“At the moment we’re talking to one person, but we’ve spoken to multiple over a period of time. But at the moment we’re talking to one so that’s why I can say we are getting closer.”
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