The appearance of the World Cup-winning All Black team in Soweto and the process to appoint a new Springbok coach appear to be the main bullet points on the agenda this week.

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The Presidents’ Forum, a non-constitutional meeting of the country’s leading officials, will take place in Johannesburg on Friday.

Although the meeting is not a formal decision-making process, certain proposals will be put forward to the Executive Council of the South African Rugby Union.

The meeting will discuss a “wide range” of issues around rugby, but there are a few pressing subjects up for debate –  including the proposal that a Test between South African and New Zealand take place at Soccer City in Soweto, the process to be followed for the appointment of a new Bok coach and the Currie Cup format for 2012 and beyond.

The proposal to take the All Blacks back to Soweto follows the success of their previous visit – when more than 90,000 spectators crammed in to watch New Zealand edge South Africa 29-22, with two tries in the last three minutes of a thrilling Test.

Next year will see the Tri-Nations expand to a Four Nations, with Argentina joining the SANZAR trio of South Africa, New Zealand and Australia.

The teams will play six Tests each, on a home-and-away basis, with the Springbok versus All Black Test pencilled in for Soweto.

England are also scheduled to visit South Africa for a three-Test series in June next year – which means venues like Pretoria, Durban, Bloemfontein, Cape Town and Port Elizabeth (which has been promised a return to the regular Test schedule after the success of this year’s All Black Test) battling it for the Boks’ five remaining home internationals.

SARU said last month that the subject of the Springbok coaching and management team for the 2012 season and beyond will be reviewed by the Executive Council.

Jurie Roux, the Chief Executive Officer of SARU, explained at the time that the contracts of all of the national team’s coaching, medical and logistical staff expired at the end of the year.

“The formal review of the 2011 season and the process of making appointments for 2012 will only be concluded towards the end of the year, as was decided by the Exco in July,” said Roux.

“The appointment of the Springbok coaches and management team are easily amongst the most important decisions we must take as an organisation. The next steps we take in that process will be in the very best interests of the Springbok team.”

Roux explained that the Exco appointed the head coach, dependent on ratification by the SARU General Council.

Although Peter de Villiers, who changed his mind three times in one week, has not formally stepped down or made himself unavailable, it is widely expected that he will be replaced.

Persistent rumours are still linking Western Province and Stormers mentor Allister Coetzee to the position of head coach.

Asked by this website, at a Western Province media briefing recently,  if he was available to take over from De Villiers, Coetzee was somewhat evasive, saying: “I am contracted to Western Province until 2012.”

Coetzee – who had a four-year stint with the Boks as one of Jake White’s assistants – said he had another year to run on his contract with Western Province, which he intended to honour.

Therefore, he suggested he was not available for the job, adding: “I would really like to win silverware with Western Province.”

However, insiders said some SARU executive members have already sounded Coetzee out about putting his name forward and that he is a shoe in for the job..

Rassie Erasmus, Western Province Rugby’s Senior Professional Coach, is also still linked to a high-ranking post within SARU, despite denials that he was aware of any such offers.

He dismissed speculation that has linked him to a Director of Rugby position, saying: “I am not aware of those rumours. Anyway, I am still contracted here [at WP Rugby] till the end of next year.”

The Currie Cup format for 2012 could also make for some interesting debate.

It was announced earlier this year that the Currie Cup Premier Division will be contested by six teams from 2012 and eight teams will play in the First Division.

At the meeting of SARU General Council in August the Eastern Province Kings voted in favour of the six-team format

The Eastern Cape franchise, who will be playing Super Rugby in 2013, was reportedly promised ‘automatic entry’ into the country’s premier domestic competition – if they win the First Division.

At the time they were on top of the First Division table and looked good to hold up their end of the bargain.

However, their season took a bit of a turn and they ended up coming second to the Boland Cavaliers. Insiders say the Kings have since changed their mind and may want the Executive to rethink their earlier decision.

Another point on the agenda for Friday is the discussion of the South African franchises’ participation in Super Rugby post 2012.

The Kings were promised that they will get an automatic spot in 2013, at the expensive of one of the current five – the Stormers, Sharks, Cheetahs, Bulls and Lions.

This topic was up for discussion by the SARU Exco in August, but was deferred for discussion at Friday’s President’s Forum.