Rassie signed to 2027 as new Bok coaching team confirmed
Rassie Erasmus — the mastermind behind the Springboks’ back-to-back Rugby World Cup titles of 2019 and 2023 — has returned to the role of head coach for the next four years, following the departure of Jacques Nienaber to Leinster.
Erasmus, who coached the team in 2019 and was director of rugby four years later, will lead a modified coaching team in the absence of Nienaber and attack coach Felix Jones, who has left to join England.
Replacing them will be former Ireland hooker and Harlequins assistant coach Jerry Flannery, who will take charge of the team’s defence, and former All Black flyhalf Tony Brown, who served as an assistant coach for Japan from 2016 to the 2023 World Cup, and was also the Highlanders head coach in 2017, 2021 and 2022.
His focus will be on attack. The duo will complete the Springbok coaching team which consists of Mzwandile Stick, Deon Davids and Daan Human, as well as Andy Edwards as head of athletic performance, who were key coaching staff last year and whose contracts were extended midway through 2023 until the conclusion of the 2027 World Cup in Australia.
Another exciting new addition to the Springbok team will see renowned international referee and four-time Outsurance Referee of the Year Jaco Peyper — who recently announced his retirement from refereeing — join the team as national laws adviser.
Double RWC-winning Springbok eighthman Duane Vermeulen has also been appointed to a roving coaching role with all SA Rugby’s national teams, where he will become the third member of a mobicoaching unit, joining forces with existing coaches Franzel September and Bafana Nhleko.
SA Rugby president Mark Alexander welcomed the appointments, and said he was confident that they would add immense value to the team for their playing and coaching experience, under the guidance of Erasmus.
“We are delighted to announce that Rassie Erasmus will take over the reins as the Springbok head coach once again following his success with the team since 2018, and we believe that with the continuity in the coaching structures and the exciting additions, we are in good hands in the ultimate objective of claiming a hat-trick of World Cup titles,” Alexander said.*
“Tony Brown and Jerry Flannery are both former international players and bring fantastic coaching experience, and their skills will complement Mzwandile Stick, Deon Davids and Daan Human.
“It is also a huge coup to have a world-class referee in Jaco Peyper as a member of the management team and to retain his expertise in South African Rugby, as understanding the referees and their analysis of the laws is critical to any team’s success.
“We are excited about this Springbok coaching team, and we’ll be thrilled to see how the double World Champions perform once they return to the field for the first time since lifting the Webb Ellis Cup in
France last year.”
Alexander also welcomed the appointment of Vermeulen.
“Duane has tremendous experience as a player and will take that IP into the coaching teams of our other national teams to give them an insight into what it takes to be a champion team.
“It also allows us to extend our own coaching base from within the ranks of the Springboks with an eye to the future.” Springbok coaching team: Head coach: Rassie Erasmus
Assistant coach: Mzwandile Stick Assistant coach: Deon Davids
Assistant coach: Daan Human
Assistant coach: Tony Brown
Assistant coach: Jerry Flannery
Head of athletic performance: Andy