Snyman handed Blitzboks reins
RESHUFFLE: NGCOBO RETURNS TO HIS PREVIOUS ROLE
The Springbok Sevens coaching team has been re-formatted and a review of the Sevens department’s structure is being undertaken as a response to disappointing results, SA Rugby announced last night.
Head coach Sandile Ngcobo has returned to the role of coach to the “next generation” of sevens players, while Philip Snyman (assistant coach) has taken over as head coach of the Blitzboks until the end of July. The changes were made at the suggestion of Ngcobo and the players were advised yesterday.
The Blitzboks, who had finished in the top two in 12 of the previous 16 World Sevens seasons, are currently seventh on the standings after finishing ninth and 11th in the last two events in Vancouver and Los Angeles, respectively.
If the team fails to finish in the top-eight of the standings, it will be required to play in a promotion and relegation series.
Ngcobo was promoted from Sevens Academy coach to take over from Neil Powell in September 2022, with Snyman, a former Blitzbok captain, appointed as assistant coach.
Snyman will now hold the head coach role until the end of July and the completion of the Olympic Games in Paris – for which the team has yet to qualify.
“We have a talented and experienced group of Sevens players, but they have under-performed since winning the opening event of the World Weries in Dubai and results have only worsened,” said Rian Oberholzer, CEO of SA Rugby.
“We greatly appreciate the honesty of Sandile’s approach and must praise him for placing the team’s needs above his personal ambitions.
“We will continue to invest in his development and believe he has a future in our systems.
However, the short-term needs of the team are such that for continuity purposes we have given Philip the task of reviving the team’s fortunes,” explained the SA Rugby boss.