Swys de Bruin out of Kings coaching box
Coaching guru Swys de Bruin will not be part of the Southern Kings’ plans as they prepare for professional rugby’s restart in SA.
Earlier this year, De Bruin was brought in as coaching consultant in an effort to give the team extra attacking punch in the Guinness PRO14.
If Covid-19 restrictions are lifted, the Kings will form part of a Currie Cup-style competition which is scheduled to kick off at the end of August or early September.
An SA Rugby spokesperson said De Bruin was contracted to the scheduled end of PRO14 in May and that his contract has not been renewed.
However, Braam van Straaten and Vuyo Zanqa will remain as assistants to interim head coach Robbi Kempson in a new era of SA Rugby control of the franchise.
With finances stretched as a result of rugby being put on hold because of the Covid-19 pandemic, it is clear budgets are being trimmed in tough economic times.
SA Rugby are now in control of the Kings after the exit of previous owners Greatest Rugby Company in the Whole Wide World (GRC).
After a slow start to their PRO14 campaign before play was suspended, the Kings brought in De Bruin to work closely with Kempson and his assistants.
Kempson has described De Bruin as the “best attacking coach in the world”.
Though De Bruin did not travel with the team to Europe, he did visit Port Elizabeth to be part of their training sessions.
De Bruin ’ s most recent coaching jobs before he linked up with the Kings had been as Springbok attack coach and Lions head coach.
He previously worked at the Sharks, Griquas and with the SA under-20 side.
The Kings had been scheduled to restart their PRO14 programme with two derby games against SA rivals the Cheetahs.
However, those games are now expected to fall away and priority will be given to an enlarged Currie Cup tournament which will be played in a bio bubble.
Minus the Kings and Cheetahs, an abbreviated schedule will see the 2019/2020 PRO14 regular season run to 15 rounds.
This will be followed by semifinals and a final across four consecutive weeks.
Round 14 will kick off in Italy on August 21, with Benetton Rugby welcoming Zebre to Treviso before derby action in the UK and Ireland.
In Wales, Scarlets face Cardiff Blues in Llanelli upon their return to rugby with head coach Glenn Delaney taking charge of the hosts for the first time.
That game will be followed by Edinburgh’s clash with Glasgow Warriors in the Scottish capital.
The final game on Saturday sees Munster visit Aviva Stadium in Dublin, where Leinster are looking to extend their record unbeaten run of 14 games in the Guinness PRO14.
The opening weekend concluded on Sunday with Ospreys taking on Dragons in Swansea and Connacht facing Ulster in Dublin.
PRO14 Rugby remains in constant dialogue with SA Rugby and the clubs, and aim to identify appropriate dates for the two derbies when possible.
“So far we have been encouraged by the developments that have allowed all of our teams to return to training,” PRO14 tournament director David Jordan said.
“Thanks to the great efforts of our clubs and unions, the willingness of governments and the support of our broadcasters we now have a fixture list to look forward to.
“Everyone who makes our games possible has had to adapt to a new way of working under the restrictions of the pandemic and the response of all our key stakeholders has been very impressive.
“With these fixtures now confirmed we are all geared to safe delivery of these games and to the welcome return of rugby after such a long period without the sport.”