DIRECTOR of rugby Gary Gold has slammed speculation linking Worcester Warriors with South African fly-half Elton Jantjies.

Gold described the national report as “fake news” and said he’d had a text message from South Africa coach Allister Coetzee about the claims.

Warriors have previously been linked with experienced Springbok fly-half Morne Steyn, and other high-profile number 10s including James O’Connor, Toby Flood and Owen Williams.

“We haven’t had a conversation to ask him (Jantjies) out of his contract,” said Gold, a former South Africa assistant coach.

“I haven’t had a conversation with anybody about getting Elton out of his contact.

“I had a text message from Allister Coetzee (South Africa coach) the other day to ask if we were looking at Elton and I said ‘no’ because we are not.”

Gold has openly said Warriors are looking to bring in a high-profile number 10 for next season.

Ryan Lamb’s release from Warriors is expected to be confirmed tomorrow.

That will leave Tom Heathcote and teenage fly-half Jamie Shillcock on the books.

Ryan Mills, the current fly-half, wants to play at inside centre next season.

Jantjies, 26, currently plays at the Johannesburg-based Lions and has made 11 Test appearances for the Springboks since 2012.

The national newspaper report suggested Jantjies was keen to move to Europe but the Lions had refused to release him from his contract which has another year to run.

“It’s fake news,” said Gold.

“I am a big Elton fan.

“I think he’s an outstanding player but he’s got a contract.

"We haven’t even had a conversation.

“I haven’t had a conversation with anyone at the Lions and I haven’t had a conversation with Elton.”

Gold added: “Elton’s also under Springbok contract so he’s not available.

“I don’t know where they got the story from.

“If they were bugging my phone, they got the wrong phone number.”