NATIONAL NEWS - Frans Ludeke on Saturday night quit as coach of the Bulls following the side’s home loss to the Cheetahs in their final Super Rugby match of the season at Loftus Versfeld, which capped a torrid campaign for the Pretoria outfit.

It ends the tenure of the longest-serving South African coach after 149 Super Rugby matches with one year left on his contract. He took the Bulls to the Super Rugby title in 2009 and 2010.

The Blue Bulls Company confirmed in a statement a number of coaching changes with regards to the 2015 Currie Cup season and Super Rugby in 2016.

The Board indicated that Ludeke would step down as Super Rugby and Currie Cup head coach with immediate effect.

Discussions with Ludeke about his future are ongoing as well as the process to appoint a new head coach for Super Rugby 2016, the statement said.

The Board also confirmed a decision in February 2015 to extend the contract of CEO Barend van Graan until January 2019.