Natal boss Dick Muir, linked with the top job at Leicester, has been named as South Africa's new backs coach.
He claimed that the Tigers had made an approach to him about replacing under-fire coach Marcelo Loffreda.
The Argentine has overseen a poor Premiership campaign and an early exit from the Heineken Cup.
But Muir, who led the Sharks to last year's Super 14 final, will now take up a new position alongside new Springboks head coach Peter de Villiers.
Earlier this week, Muir said of the Tigers: "It is an honour to be approached by a club so rich in history and success, but at present I am not interested in anything but the Sharks."
His claim seems to back up speculation that Leicester have lost patience with Loffreda less than a year after he replaced Australian Pat Howard.
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Loffreda guided unfancied Argentina to the World Cup semi-finals in a memorable campaign which included victories over France (twice) as well as Ireland and Scotland.
Leicester have struggled in the Premiership this season and need to beat Harlequins on Saturday to have any chance of qualifying for the play-offs.
And in the Heineken Cup, the Tigers missed out on a place in the knockout stages after suffering three defeats, including a loss against Edinburgh.
But despite the difficulties of his first season in charge, Loffreda, a former civil engineer, insists he is not going to walk away from the club.
"I want to do my best to remain," he said. "I'm not thinking about any other thing than to continue my contract."
And Loffreda says he will turn his attention to speculation regarding his future when the season is over.
"Maybe then I will have to deal with that but not at the moment," he told BBC Radio Leicester. "I am not thinking those kind of things.
"I want to be as fresh and bright as I can so I can help the team to have a good performance."
Muir has been joined on the Springboks coaching staff by Western Stormers assistant and former London Irish boss Gary Gold, who takes charge of the forwards.
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