Proudfoot’s ‘factory’ may now close down

MATT PROUDFOOT has decided to leave Cape Town and continue his career in Japan’s Top League.

Multiple sources have confirmed that the Western Province forwards coach has agreed to terms with Kobe Steelers and will follow in the footsteps of outgoing Stormers head coach Allister Coetzee, who is set to commence his tenure as head coach of the Osaka club on July 11.

Like Coetzee, Proudfoot’s contract with Kobe is understood to have built-in exit clauses to provide for international coaching opportunities.

Proudfoot first took charge of the Stormers and Province pack in 2009 and it was during his term that a core group of marquee Province forwards burst onto the scene, namely Steven Kitshoff, Scarra Ntubeni, Frans Malherbe, Eben Etzebeth and Siya Kolisi.

Unfortunately, over the course of those seven seasons in Cape Town, the pack has matched the rollercoaster highs of winning two Currie Cups and three Super Rugby conference titles, with the lows of losses in two domestic championship games and three Super Rugby play-off defeats at Newlands.

Kitshoff is one of several Province stalwarts who have signed deals with overseas clubs. Earlier this year. John Dobson was put in charge of WP’s imminent Currie Cup challenge, Stormers attack coach Robbie Fleck was assigned to the corresponding Under-21 quest, and Proudfoot was earmarked to head up a project dubbed “the tight five factory”.

The project, ostensibly aimed at identifying young, talented heavies in the Province player pool, and developing this talent to mitigate the impact of losing starters such as Kitshoff, may now be grounded by Proudfoot’s departure.