When a coach quits just three months out from the Rugby World Cup, it is fairly obvious that all cannot be well. And so it is perhaps not surprising that Danie Vermeulen, who left his post as head coach of Namibia recently, has taken aim at his former employers, lifting the lid on what sounds like a farcical employment situation.
Vermeulen penned a lengthy letter to Die Republikein, detailing the many obstacles he faced in his job. The most shocking, perhaps, was the revelation that when his wheelchair was stolen on a trip to Namibia, the NRU refused to reimburse him for it.
“Is that what I am worth to the NRU and must I now pay if the NRU doesn’t take out sufficient insurance cover? With all this in mind, I came to the conclusion that the NRU does not appreciate my services as national coach and I had no other option but to resign,” Vermeulen said.
He also revealed that he had been accused of racism despite no evidence ever being presented, and had faced repeated interference in the selection of his squad. The union also stepped in to make sure the players weren’t ‘over-trained’ for when they were returned to their clubs, and Vermeulen’s repeated attempts to replace key members of staff that had left were blocked.
“After the November tour I was informed that the coloured payers in the squad had laid complaints of racism against me which were shocking. I requested to see the complaints, but till today I have not received them. I also haven’t received any explanation from the NRU and the issue was never resolved.”
“Many people could not understand why we performed so badly against Kenya and Zimbabwe, after we beat Western Province and nearly beat the Blue Bulls as well. But what they don’t know is that the NRU ordered me to limit my training sessions to two per week because they felt the players rather had to play club rugby.
“This resulted in the players not being conditioned properly while they couldn’t maintain a high work rate for four World Cup qualifying matches in a row. The fact that we still managed to qualify for the World Cup was a miracle and an act of God.
“After our qualification, the NRU again decided that the players had to play club rugby rather than prepare for the European tour in November last year. Needless to say, we didn’t win a match on the tour,” he added.
Ex Cardiff Blues and Leeds Tykes boss Phil Davies, who had previously filled an advisory role at the NRU, has been appointed as the new head coach and has just three short months to get his squad in shape before they face New Zealand, Tonga, Argentina and Georgia in Rugby World Cup group C.
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