Gert Smal is set to vacate his position as Western Province director of rugby three months before his contract ends.

Smal’s contract finishes at the end of October, but according to Rapport, he will leave on 1 July to join Jake White’s coaching staff at the Toyota Verblitz in Japan.

It’s understood that Smal was eager to depart before 1 July, but that the union had said it requires his services until then.

Meanwhile, WP Rugby has agreed to redeploy Paul Treu to a new position specifically designed for him.

This comes after Treu’s scheduled meeting with CEO Paul Zacks earlier in the week was reportedly gatecrashed by WPRFU president Zelt Marais. Zacks was set to offer Treu a severance package, but Marais ensured Treu remained employed by the union.

Treu’s temporary job title is special projects manager, but his new role within the union will be announced when he returns home from his trip to England.

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