Forgotten former Springbok centre Jorrie Muller has been appointed as the Leopards’ assistant coach for the 2012 season.

Sport24

The Beeld newspaper reports that Muller, 30, will assist head coach Leon Boshoff after Burger van der Westhuizen, their previous assistant coach, joined the PUK rugby institute.

Rugby fans will remember how the promising young Muller’s career took a big knock when the then 22-year-old was picked by Rudolph Straeuli for the Springbok side in the 2003 World Cup.

Muller flattered to deceive in a disastrous campaign for the Springboks and his six-match Test career ended there and then. He kept on playing for the Golden Lions until 2006 and also had a brief spell for Lyon in France but could never really get his rugby career back on track.

Later on he took to coaching and last year he led the Golden Lions’ sevens team to the national title.

And Leopards coach Boshoff is excited about joining forces with the former Springbok.

“Jorrie knows what he’s talking about and at least he was a Springbok. I’m sure his knowledge would be an asset for us. He brings something fresh to the team,” said Boshoff.

As things currently stand, the Potchefstroom-based outfit will play their games in the Currie Cup First Division after SARU reduced the number of teams participating in the Currie Cup Premier Division from eight to six. There is however still rumours that the rule might change when SARU again convenes to discuss the matter.

But before that there’s a Vodacom Cup for the Leopards to focus on. They kick off their campaign on 10 March against the Lions at home. They will play two warm-up games on 18 and 24 February against the Blue Bulls and Pumas respectively.