South Africa coach Heyneke Meyer has revealed that he wouldn't be where is today if it weren't for his spell in charge at Leicester Tigers.

Meyer is preparing to face England on Saturday in the first of a three-Test series, but admits that he nearly quit the sport altogether in 2008 after initially being turned down in his bid to become Springboks coach.

The 44-year-old took charge at Leicester for six months in 2008 before leaving the post due to family reasons. Meyer cites his tenure as boss at Welford Road as the reason for his continuing existence in rugby.

"Without being a great politician, I had an unbelievable time at Leicester. The way they treated me and carried me on their hands in difficult times there," said Meyer.

"I have just got the best things to say about Leicester. The public and the board were brilliant from day one. I will always be thankful for Leicester because if it wasn't for them I wouldn't have been back in rugby.

"I thought at one stage it was the end of the road, I had done my dues and it was time to get into something else. But the way they treated me and brought me back into rugby, I will always be thankful for them."

Meyer's first game in charge of South Africa is against England in Durban on Saturday.