Less than a year into his tenure as coach of the Peacock Blues the coach set to depart.

The Griquas travel to Johannesburg this weekend where they will face the Golden Lions in the first semi-final of the 2019 Currie Cup. Over the weekend, the Griquas suffered just their first defeat of the season under the guidance of Janse van Rensburg, when they lost 27-26 to the very same Lions in Kimberley.

Earlier in the year, they lost to the Pumas during the group stages of the SuperSport Rugby Challenge, and more recently they suffered a 68-14 drubbing at the hands of the Toyota Free State Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.

Reasons for Janse van Ransburg’s resignation are unclear at this stage, but there are murmurings that he may have been offered another job.

Van Rensburg said that is wasn’t an easy decision to make as something special had been built over the past season.

"It was very difficult for me to this news to the players and management team at the stage of the season.

"We have built something very special and have a group that is great to work with.

"It is better that we don't delay the inevitable, this I felt it best practice to be open about this and that players heard this news from me rather than from other parties sharing the news.

"We have real togetherness amongst this group, who want to play for one another, and I have no doubt that we will give our best this weekend."

Under the guidance of Van Rensburg, the Griquas won silverware when they won the SuperSport Rugby Challenge.

The Lions will host the Griquas on Saturday afternoon at 14:00 at Ellis Park in the first semi-final of the Currie Cup.

@MorganPiek OFM Sport