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Former Boks coach Allister Coetzee leaves Japan’s Canon Eagles

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FILE PHOTO: Former South Africa head coach Allister Coetzee during the Guinness Series International match between Ireland and South Africa at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. (Photo By Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Former South African national rugby men’s team coach Allister Coetzee has left his role as head coach of Japanese Top League club Canon Eagles after two years in charge, the club announced on Monday.

Coetzee was appointed to the role in March 2018 having been sacked by the Springboks a month earlier following a disappointing run of results.

Under Coetzee, the Eagles finished 12th in the 16-team competition in the 2018/2019 season. The team was in 9th place before the 2019/2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Coetzee, 56, had also previously coached another Japanese side, the Kobelco Steelers, from 2015 to 2016.

According to the club’s website, three other South Africans are among a host of departures from the Japanese outfit: forwards coach Barend Pieterse, flyhalf Fred Zeilinga & lock Rynier Bernardo.

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