Joe Marler says if he was elected as World Rugby chairman he would appoint SA Rugby director of rugby Rassie Erasmus as his right-hand man.
Marler was speaking to the Daily Mail in a wide-ranging interview on rugby’s politics, governance and marketing.
During the interview, the England prop revealed what he would do if he was hypothetically appointed as the new World Rugby boss in 2023.
“The first thing I’d do is install Rassie Erasmus as my right-hand man and the second thing I’d do is install Agustin Pichot as my left-hand man,” Marler told the Daily Mail.
“Rassie’s gold. He’s marmite but he’s got people talking about rugby,” Marler added. “I love him. I f***ing love him. I think Eddie Jones should start running the water on like Rassie does, although by the time he reaches the middle of the pitch the ref would already be telling him to get off!
“Rassie seems very true to himself. I’ve never met the bloke but I got his staff to pass on a bottle of red to him after we played South Africa in the autumn. He is who he is. He does what he wants. I love anyone who is authentic and stays true to who they are. You don’t have to agree with them.”
