Ackermann to build in England
Coetzee laments Gloucester appointment as ‘big loss’ for Lions and SA
Lions coach Johan Ackermann will change one version of white-and-red for another to take up the position of head coach at English club Gloucester later in 2017. Lions director of rugby Rudolf Straeuli confirmed on Monday Ackermann would leave the union at the end of the current Super Rugby campaign‚ ending weeks of speculation linking the former Bok lock to the Gloucester job. Ackermann has been a great success at the Lions. His experience in rebuilding a team is one of the factors that appealed to the Gloucester hierarchy when they approached him with a three-year offer. The Lions were relegated from Super Rugby in 2012‚ but Ackermann built a team out of rising stars and journeymen that won the 2015 Currie Cup and went all the way to the 2016 Super Rugby final. They are top of the SA Super Rugby conference on 23 points. "It was a hard decision … and it took a long time to come to it‚" Ackermann said. "I hope that the move will enhance me as a coach‚ which is the main reason I’m mov...
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