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Cardiff Blues have reportedly held talks with the Western Province Director of Rugby Gert Smal about the head coach position.
Smal, a World Cup winner, was part of the Springbok set-up which won the 2007 tournament, was interviewed by Blues Chief Executive Richard Holland earlier in February, reports the walesonline.co.uk website.
He also spent five years as an assistant coach of the Irish rugby team.
The Welsh region has been searching for a new head coach since Danny Wilson opted not to renew his contract and chose instead to take up a new challenge with Wasps for next season.
Former Ireland international Geordan Murphy appeared to be the frontrunner for the role and there were also suggestions the Welsh Rugby Union wanted to place Wales coaching candidate Chris Boyd in the region.
Instead, the Hurricanes head coach signed with Northampton Saints.
It is left the Blues to look elsewhere and Smal is now one of the frontrunners for the role.
More than 30 contenders originally applied for the vacant Blues post, but the region’s worldwide search has now led them to South Africa.
