By Paloma Migone of NZPA

Wellington, Oct 11 NZPA - Former All Blacks rugby coach John Mitchell has been released from hospital after he was stabbed by an intruder in his South African apartment on Saturday night.

Two intruders broke into the Johannesburg apartment about 10pm (9am Sunday NZ time) and one of them stabbed Mitchell in the arm and leg during a struggle.

Krystle Geach, a spokeswoman for the Lions Currie Cup rugby team, said Mitchell was in bed, at the Hyde Park apartment he shared with fellow New Zealand coach Wayne Taylor, when he heard someone come into his room.

"He thought Wayne was playing a joke on him, so he actually jumped on the person, but it was actually one of the intruders."

The second intruder attacked Mitchell, stabbing him in the arm and leg, she said.

He was taken to hospital, got stitches and was released.

"He will be back to work tomorrow. He is really OK.

"He's left his family to come here and work in a country he's loved for so long, so obviously he is very disappointed, but more shocked than anything else."

Both Mitchell and Taylor were now staying at a hotel.

Warrant officer Moses Maphakela from Johannesburg police told NZPA the intruders had gone into the apartment through the kitchen window.

"They went to the room of John Mitchell. They demanded money. They tied his hands and feet with a rope."

Taylor, who had been sleeping in the other room, managed to escape through a bathroom window, and called police.

Mr Maphakela said the men walked away with two laptop computers, cellphones, an iPod, a digital camera and cash.

"We recovered the two laptops and the digital camera outside the house."

Mr Maphakela said police were still looking for suspects.

Mitchell, 46, is in South Africa coaching the Lions and will also coach the Super 15 team in next year's competition.

He coached the All Blacks in 2002 and 2003 before being replaced by Graham Henry, and spent four years coaching Perth-based Super rugby team the Western Force.