The WPRFU on Monday placed an advertisement in local newspapers for the newly-created Director of Rugby position.

They listed, among the qualifications, that the applicant(s) should be a ’dynamic personality, have an exceptional knowledge of the game of rugby, experience of selection and coaching at provincial and at national level’.

Now it appears the advertisement was merely to go through the motions and in order to be seen to do things properly.

Mallett has confirmed that the WPRFU has already contacted him, though he is still undecided about what he will do.

"I had a call to say that they would be keen for me to apply - they said they would like me to have a look," Mallett told the Cape Times.

"When I came back to South Africa I was keen to stay out of rugby for a year or two having been involved for nine years without a break.

"[But] this position would not take me far away from my family. It’s a hell of a good opportunity and in the area that I live and love. It combines family with rugby. I think the Director of Rugby position is a very exciting development from a WP point of view."

Mallett, who won back-to-back French titles with Stade Francais before returning to South Africa this year, took the Springboks to 17 successive Test victories and the 1998 Tri-Nations title before he was summarily - many would say totally unfairly-dismissed by his employers at SA Rugby.

When he returned this year Mallett made it clear that he would like to be involved in SA rugby in some way, but that he was not looking for a high-profile coaching job.

He has since been constantly overlooked by the SA Rugby hierarchy, but now Western Province has dangled a top job in front of the former Bok coach.

"I still haven’t decided whether I will go for it or not,"Mallett told the newspaper, adding that he would make a decision before the end of the year.

The WPRFU created the Director of Rugby position after ordering a review of rugby in the province following a season in which, among other disappointments, the senior team bowed out at the semi-final stage of the Currie Cup - that despite producing 12 members of the victorious Springbok Tri-Nations squad.

In future all coaches that work for WP will report to the Director of Rugby.

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