Cardiff boss Corniel van Zyl responds to rumours linking him with URC rivals

Cardiff boss Corniel van Zyl has ruled himself out of the race to take over at United Rugby Championship rivals Benetton Rugby, and pledged his future to the Welsh capital beyond the end of the season.

RugbyPass reported on Monday that former Italian international lock Van Zyl, who spent eight years in Benetton’s second row, was being considered for the job, along with Jake White and Richard Cockerill.

Van Zyl, 47, has been in charge at the Arms Park after former head coach Matt Sherratt moved to join the Wales coaching staff at the start of the season, but hasn’t been given an official title by the club.

But he has got another year left to run on his contract as Cardiff’s forwards coach and admits that he spoke to Benetton about replacing Calum MacRae, who is bound for Newcastle Red Bulls this summer.

The Italians are looking for an international-quality coach and have interviewed Springbok World Cup-winning coach White and former England interim boss Richard Cockerill.

Ironically, Van Zyl, who has led Cardiff to fifth in the URC table, takes his side to Benetton in the knockout stages of the Challenge Cup in early April and says that he is happy to see out his contract at the Arms Park.

“It’s probably not true that I’ve had an interview with them, but I have had conversations with people in that club. And that’s basically it,” he told the BBC.

“Ultimately, it’s not my decision to stay on in the future. You need to look after yourself and your family as well. But I love Cardiff. I don’t want to move anywhere else at this moment in time.

“So we’ll see what happens. Hopefully, we’ll have more clarity soon. I extended my forwards coach role a few months ago. So I’m still the forwards coach at Cardiff, even if it’s not what I’m currently doing.”