 An unimpressive stint as head coach of London Irish saw Gold leave the side at the end of the 2004–05 season to return to South Africa.At the end of the 2004–05 season, Gold was offered a chance to return to his native Cape Town; London Irish agreed to release him from his contract, and he returned to South Africa to take up the role of forwards coach at Western Province.After two seasons as forwards coach, and back-to-back knock-outs in the semi-final, Gold took on the role of head coach at Western Province in July 2007 after Kobus Van Der Merwe and Jerome Paarwater resigned from their positions at the club.