SA Rugby announced on Wednesday that they will establish a national coaching forum “to deepen and expand communication between national team coaches and franchise and provincial union coaching staffs”.
Currently, coaching staffs liaise over the schedules of Players of National Interest (PONI), for whom SA Rugby already makes a salary contribution. Alexander said the new forum would provide a formal structure to further enhance these relationships.
He confirmed that SA Rugby supports the Springbok coaching staff in assisting the Bulls and other teams that may request such collaboration, by providing a sounding board and exchanging ideas.
“We believe this kind of collaboration should be the norm in South African rugby,” said Mr Alexander.
“The Springbok coaching staff and our member unions must work together, sharing ideas and expertise to strengthen the playing of the game across all levels. This process is well established in many progressive rugby nations, where collective delivery ensures both excellence and sustainability.”
SA Rugby ‘to the rescue’
Alexander added that a number of member unions had previously requested support from the Springbok coaching team to help address coaching gaps. The current support of the Bulls is therefore part of an established practice and is not intended to change their unique game plan or identity.
He emphasised that this initiative is not intended to impose a “Springbok way” of playing on all teams.
“Collaboration is about support and shared learning, not uniformity—it is about elevating standards while respecting the autonomy of each union,” he said.
Alexander confirmed that SA Rugby was looking to establish the coaching forum in the new year to formalise support and collaboration with members.
This platform would aim to bring together national team coaches and member unions to exchange best practices, align strategies and reinforce the ethos and values of South African rugby, he said.
Clarity called for
This announcement comes just after Bulls head coach Johan Ackermann moved to clarify recent media reports and social media speculation regarding his request to involve Springbok coaches in supporting the team.
Ackermann emphasised that the speculation suggesting Springbok assistant coaches would be helping the Bulls during derby week was unfounded.
Ackermann added that any collaboration would be practical and rotational.
“You can’t expect the Bok coaches, one of whom lives in Ireland, to be at Loftus every week. I’d be happy if they rotated, which is where the idea of involving Duane Vermeulen and Felix Jones came in.”
“I would never ask Rassie for game plans, merely a careful eye on what we are doing. This is about alignment and perspective, not about outsourcing our coaching,” he concluded.
