Former Springbok assistant coach Gert Smal has been appointed the new Director of Rugby of the Western Province Rugby Union.
The Springbok loose forward, who served a successful stint as Western Province coach a decade ago, will take up office from tomorrow and will immediately become responsible for overseeing all playing and coaching matters at the union, including the contracting of players.
This means that all professional coaches at junior and senior level – including current Stormers head coach Allister Coetzee – will be answerable to him.
Smal and Coetzee worked together as assistants to current Sharks Director of Rugby Jake White as part of the Springbok management team that captured the Rugby World Cup in 2007. It will be interesting to see how well that relationship pans out over the coming months, with massive dissatisfaction within Western Province ranks aimed at Coetzee, whose team have lost five games already in 2014.
Tweet
if only he was a Shark now…
@Uli Boelie (Comment 1) : because what we have is clearly not working 🙄
Anyways, Smal’s position seems to be a long term fix, rather than an instant fix. This season for them is enjoying a nice holiday in the septic tank.
Probably a good move. If he isn’t mired in the politics. Very good coach with a helluva punch.
@Uli Boelie (Comment 1) :
Oh brother. 🙄
@Big Fish (Comment 3) : Will never forget that punch
Now they must only clear their board room from all the inside “politics” then they’ll be ok.
Have you guys seen this?! 😯
http://www.sarugbymag.co.za/blog/details/springboks-to-play-in-absa-red
You know what that means 😉
@FireTheLooser (Comment 2) : @Big Fish (Comment 3) :
Actually White wanted him as part of his coaching team, but could not have him due to the Sharks already appointed the coaching staff.
@MysticShark (Comment 5) : There was that punch and then there was Burger Geldenhuys’ assault from behind on Andy Dalton. Disgusting.
Just a pity the Stormers did not have the balls to boot Coetzee in total