Waratahs assistant Simon Cron breaks bad news to players

The Waratahs have been hit by another distraction that threatens to be just as damaging as the bitter Israel Folau saga.

Waratahs assistant Simon Cron informed players he would be leaving at the end of the season.

• D-Day confirmed to decide Folau’s fate
• Tahs v All Blacks boss in battle for coach
• No reward for Tah’s ‘hit of the season’

Just when Australian rugby thought it had seen the last of the off-field sagas that have cast a massive shadow over the build up the World Cup, the Waratahs have been hit by another bombshell that threatens to be just as disruptive as the bitter row over Israel Folau.

As first revealed by The Daily Telegraph last month, NSW’s highly rated assistant coach Simon Cron has been considering an offer to take up the job of head coach at Japan’s Top League club Toyota Verblitz, working under All Blacks boss Steve Hansen.

And now it’s understood that any hopes of retaining him have now been lost with Cron breaking the news to the Waratahs players that he’s leaving at the end of the season and heading to Asia.

Waratahs assistant Simon Cron informed players he would be leaving at the end of the season.

His departure is a massive blow to the Waratahs because he is hugely popular with the rank and file after turning the once flimsy NSW forward pack into a formidable unit.

The news could also not come at a worse time for the Waratahs, who are currently in South Africa desperately hoping for a win to revive their flagging Super Rugby playoff hopes after tumbling to 10th spot on the table following Saturday’s self-inflicted loss to the Sharks.

It’s also another dagger to the heart of Australian rugby, which has beset by the loss of top players and coaches to overseas clubs, with more departures expected after the World Cup.

Cron was being groomed to take over as Waratahs head coach next season but his expected promotion was delayed by at least a year after NSW extended Daryl Gibson’s contract until the end of 2020.

Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson. Picture: AAP

It is understood that Cron still wanted to stay with the Waratahs but NSW Rugby chief executive Andrew Hore told The Daily Telegraph last week that while Cron was regarded as a future leader, not only for the Waratahs but possibly the Wallabies, there were no guarantees he would get the top job because he wasn’t the finished product.

“We would like him to stay with Daryl next year, he’s got areas we would like to see improvements and hopefully put himself in a strong position to lead the Waratahs and then Australia,” Hore told The Daily Telegraph.

“There’s no promises in and around being head coach, there are other names there as well. Simon has got to show us he is prepared to grow in some areas.”

Hansen, who is set to become director of rugby at Toyota Verblitz at the completion of this year’s World Cup, holds Cron in such high regard that he kept pursuing him while NSW dithered and now he’s got his man.

Dejected Waratahs after their loss to the Sharks. Picture: Getty

There was some better news for NSW when second rower Jed Holloway received a reduced suspension of three weeks for elbowing Sharks’ prop Thomas du Toit in the head.

Foul play involving contact with an opponent’s head normally receives a minimum ban of six weeks but Holloway got a three game reduction because he pleaded guilty, expressed remorse for his actions and had never been in trouble with the judiciary before.

Holloway had already missed the team’s departure to South Africa to remain in Sydney for his case to be heard and won’t be available to play for the Tahs again until May 25 when NSW hosts the Jaguares at Bankwest Stadium.