'I was told I couldn't sit there': Rassie was asked to move from subs bench against Scotland

Paris - SA Rugby director of rugby Rassie Erasmus admitted he was asked to leave the substitutes bench during the South Africa/Scotland game in Marseille on 10 September.

In responding to a question about whether they would be using their famed ‘disco lights’ communication system for Sunday’s heavily anticipated Rugby World Cup quarter-final against France, at what is expected to be a raucous Stade de France, Erasmus explained how he was gently asked not to sit with the substitutes.

Erasmus, between 2021 and 2022, ran afoul of World Rugby with how he pushed the letter of the law by being on the sidelines and his smart critique of match officials.

After Erasmus’s appearance on the sidelines during the 2021 British & Irish Lions Series, World Rugby adjusted its rules to disbar certain coaching members from being on the touchline.

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Since a gentle reminder in the World Cup opener, Erasmus has stayed in the coaches' box for the rest of the tournament and was even joined by veteran number eight Duane Vermeulen in the 13-8 loss to Ireland on 23 September.

The Bok coaching staff had earlier indicated that the disco light system allowed for easier communication with regards to on-field medical issues that could get lost in the noise of boisterous French stadiums.

"In the first game, I was sitting on the bench with the bench players. A very nice match commissioner said I couldn't sit there," Erasmus said.

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"I said I didn't know, I don't want to cause trouble, but I have sat here for all the other matches. He said to me, 'no, it was an addendum to the participation