Lions boss Swys de Bruin has returned to South Africa from his team’s tour of Australasia because of a “medical condition” for which he is receiving help.
Speculation has been rife about the reasons behind De Bruin’s return home on the eve of Friday’s Super Rugby match against the Chiefs in Hamilton – which the Lions won 23-17 – but he put the theories to bed by stating there was nothing untoward about his leaving the Lions in New Zealand.
De Bruin says: “I can guarantee you there has been no breakdown in the relationship between me and anyone in the team or at the union.
“There has been no interference, no one has prescribed to me what to do, and no pressure has been put on me.”
De Bruin adds: “This is a personal matter and I am receiving professional help for it.
“It was our team doctor [Rob Collins], after I’d first spoken to my wife and [Lions CEO] Rudolf Straeuli, who actually said it would be best for me to return home. It was in my and the team’s best interests.”