Swys: Lions special to me
FAREWELL: STRAEULI PAYS TRIBUTE
De Bruin spent seven years with the Super Rugby squad.
It was not easy to walk away from a team which had formed a big part of his life, former head coach Swys de Bruin said yesterday, following his decision to part ways with the Golden Lions Rugby Union.
De Bruin, who recently also decided to quit his job as a consultant to Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus for medical reasons, spent seven years with the Lions.
Having been appointed initially as an assistant coach working with the backline, he was later promoted to head coach, taking over from Johan Ackermann.
During his tenure, the Lions won the Vodacom Cup in 2013, the Currie Cup in 2015 and reached the Super Rugby final in 2016, 2017 and 2018.
“The Lions will always have a special place in my heart, and I always remember this as a team which played to score tries and inspire people by the way we played,” De Bruin said.
De Bruin had made headlines when he returned in the middle of a Super Rugby tour earlier this year, apparently due to stress-related issues.
The Lions Rugby Company (Pty) Ltd said it would proceed with an internal process and would consult with SA Rugby as well as other stakeholders before appointing his successor, though it was believed De Bruin could be replaced by Ivan van Rooyen who took the team to the Currie Cup final this year.
“Swys has made a groundbreaking contribution to the team’s style of play and attacking patterns,” said Lions CEO Rudolf Straeuli, who wished De Bruin well on behalf of the union.
A team which played to score tries and inspire people by the way we played
Swys de Bruin Outgoing Lions coach