New faces will boost Griquas’ Band of Brothers
TAFEL Lager Griquas is slowly but steadily building up their reserves ahead of what they expect to be a challenging 2019. An indication of how determined the Kimberley side is to do well this year was given yesterday when the team unveiled their new assistant coach.
According to the announcement Scott Mathie will take charge of the general skills development of the team and also focus on the backline coaching, while head coach, Brent Janse van Rensburg, will take over the forwards from outgoing CJ van der Linde. The head coach is familiar with what the forwards need since this was his role when he coached at the Pumas and the NMMU Madibaz previously.
Mathie represented the Sharks Craven week team and gained selection into the SA Under-18 Academy team. He then went on to represent Tuks Firsts and won the Clubs Champs in 2003. He also represented the SA Under-19 team, the team that obtained third place at the World Cup.
He also gathered a wealth of knowledge later having previously played professional rugby for the Sharks and Bulls at Super Rugby and Currie Cup level. Later he went on to represent Sale Sharks and Leeds Carnegie in the English Premiership, before ending his career at the EP Kings where they won the First Division Currie Cup in 2012.
And for those who think that Mathie is just brawn without brains, it would be worth noting that while in England he obtained a BA in English and History.
Mathie and Janse van Rensburg have a history of working together. He assisted Janse van Rensburg during his time at Grey High School and the NMMU Varsity Cup team with skills work as well as the EP junior teams.
Currently Mathie is the Director of Rugby and First XV Head Coach of Durban High School. During his time at DHS, Scott also coached the Sharks Under-16 and Under-18 teams as well as the Durban Collegians 1st XV as attack and backline coach.
Speaking about his new assistant yesterday the Griqua head coach was excited. “We look forward to welcoming Scott upon his arrival in March. A lot has been considered in the process of getting to this appointment.
We feel Scott meets the requirements to fulfil this role and will bring the necessary character, work ethic and ability required to serve the team well.
“Having seen him coach previously, he certainly is articulate and possesses a good temperament to go far within this game.
“He has a good reference point of what it takes at this level and has made a big contribution towards the resurgence of Durban High School rugby recently,” said Janse van Rensburg.
Speaking to the media yesterday Mathie said he was looking forward to being part of Griquas. “I’m very humbled about the opportunity afforded to me by Griquas Rugby and am excited to be part of a proud and historic rugby union.
“I look forward to working with Brent and the coaching staff and helping the team achieve its goals for the future.
“It’s a new chapter for me and one I can’t wait to start,” he said.
Meanwhile, besides a new assistant coach Tafel Lager Griquas also announced recently that the team will also have a crop of brand new players for 2019.
The new Griqua players that are being integrated into the squad are:
Backline: Anthony Volmink (formerly from the Lions), Eduan Keyter (Western Province), Grant Hermanus (WP), Keanu Vers (EP Kings) and Edwin Sass, who after a short stint with Griquas in the Currie Cup last year, has been given a contract extension.
Also, new backline players will arrive in April. They are: Tinus de Beer (Bulls), Michal Hasnar (WP) and Chris Smit (Maties).
Forwards: Victor Sekekete (Bulls) and Cody Basson (Griffons). Forwards who are due to arrive in April are: Johan Momsen (Maties) and Khwezi Mona (Southern Kings).
The Griquas head coach told the DFA that he is happy with the progress made thus far to add depth to the squad and welcomed the new lads to the band of brothers.
“A warm welcome to the players who have already arrived with us. We trust they will enjoy their stay in Kimberley. Hopefully these new players will add the required value in creating competition for positions within our squad.
“We also look forward to welcoming the players who are busy finishing off their commitments with their current teams. A lot of work lies ahead for us all, but we are making steady progress. We are on the right path and must just remain focused on the process,” said Janse van Rensburg.