“The appointment of Mr Coetzee is historic and I congratulate and wish him well on his tenure as the coach of our Springboks. Mr Coetzee has an impeccable experience record on the field as a player and off the field as a coach,” said Minister Mbalula this week. The announcement was made in Johannesburg.
Minister Mbalula said he trusts that the South African Rugby Union (SARU) has familiarised the new coach with the Transmutation Agreement and the expectation from its implementation.
“The coach will need a lot of support and I urge all South Africans to support their team and its coach in both difficult and good times. Mr Coetzee has my unreserved support,” said Minister Mbalula.
Coetzee will be head coach of the Springboks for the next four years.
The 52-year-old former Springbok assistant coach succeeds Heyneke Meyer at a time when a number of veterans of the 2007 Rugby World Cup triumph have gone into retirement.
“Allister’s appointment marks the changing of the guard at the top of Springbok rugby and is an exciting new departure for SA Rugby,” said Oregan Hoskins, president of SA Rugby.
The new coach has been involved with rugby since 1974, first as a player and then later as a team manager, assistant coach and head coach.
