Embattled Springbok rugby coach Rudolf Straeuli and SA Rugby managing director Rian Oberholzer resigned after the national team's poor showing in the World Cup and controversial training methods, including nude workouts.

The announcement was made by South African Rugby chairman Silas Nkanunu at a press conference in Cape Town.

Straeuli had come under sweeping criticism over the now-infamous "boot camp" and the gruelling training program the team was put through after a leading daily broke the story with photographs of naked players.

The camp did not produce the desired results and the South Africans were crushed by New Zealand in the quarter-finals 9-29.

Straeuli was appointed in March last year after his predecessor, Harry Viljoen, quit following one of the Springboks' most disappointing seasons ever.

But the situation went from bad to worse during Straeuli's tenure.

Not only did he produce only 12 wins in 23 matches - with the victories mainly against rugby lightweights - but he also became embroiled in ugly off-the-field politics.

The week before the announcement of the World Cup team, a racism row broke out during a preparation camp, seeing white player Geo Cronje refusing to share a room or bathroom with coloured (mixed-race) player Quinton Davids.

Straeuli tried to deal with it internally, but word reached Oberholzer, who immediately suspended Cronje.

The incident made international headlines, prompting Sports Minister Ngconde Balfour to appoint a commission of inquiry into racism in rugby.

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