Vodacom Bulls coach Pote Human with Blue Bulls President Willem Strauss and Director of Rugby Alan Zondagh.

After a few crazy months of searching for the correct Head Coach & Professional staff, the Bulls finalised their signings with the best currently available staff for their Super Rugby campaign of the year 2019.

Congratulations to Bulls’ President Willem Strauss, Newly appointed Head Coach Pote Human & high-performance manager Xander Janse van Rensburg made it their business to find the best solution for the Franchise to be competitive in their first season together on a crazy short timeline!

On Friday, they made the following announcement to confirm the following positions that will make up the coaching team going into the 2019 season.

Chris Rossouw - Bulls Backline and Attack CoachCHRIS ROSSOUW is the first of the new faces at Loftus that will bolster Human’s support crew. Rossouw, brother of Pieter Rossouw also a former assistant coach at Loftus, brings his expertise as BACKLINE AND ATTACK coach. The flyhalf spent the bulk of his playing career at Western Province and the Stormers between 1997 to 2005, before heading abroad to RC Toulonnais for three years. He returned to South Africa in 2008 and finished his playing career with the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein. He started his coaching career in 2012 at the University of Stellenbosch where he spent 5 years, working his way from assistant coach to head coach, specialising with team attack and the backs. Later in 2016, he headed back to Cape Town serving as an assistant coach to the WP under 21s, winning that title in 2017. In 2017, he was also appointed as an assistant coach by the Namibian Rugby Union (Team Attack, Kicking and Exit Strategy, and Backs) for the World Rugby Nations Cup, before moving to SAS Rugby International Institute as a head coach between 2017 and 2018.

 

 

 

Daan Human is the Vodacom Bulls new scrum coachDAAN HUMAN the Former Springbok, Toulouse & Western Province prop is the current Toyota Cheetahs scrum coach and will be co-opted in the Vodacom Bulls coaching staff in a unique first for South African rugby.

Human will assist the Vodacom Bulls as SCRUM COACH in the Vodacom Super Rugby tournament two days every week, the remainder of the period he will spend with the Toyota Cheetahs in their Guinness PRO14 campaign.

Coach Pote Human expressed his delight at having a man of Human’s calibre at his disposal:  “I firmly believe that Daan will pay a major role in taking us forward.  The great work he has done at the Toyota Cheetahs is obvious to see, and we are looking forward to him joining the #BullsFamily.”

Xander Janse van Rensburg, high-performance manager:  “This arrangement is a bold step for rugby in South Africa, and more importantly it shows the willingness of the teams to improve the game in the country.  We must commend the Toyota Cheetahs for their enthusiasm and open-mindedness towards making this possible.”

“The agreement with the Vodacom Bulls is unique in South Africa and for the promotion of the performance of teams in South Africa.  To have a scrum coach like Daan Human in both entities is a positive movement in the interest of rugby.” Said Harold Verster, Managing Director of the Free State Cheetahs (Pty) Ltd.

The Toyota Cheetahs are proud of the expertise that is developed here and the opportunities created, which are valuable for rugby in South Africa and abroad.  Many experts have grown their expertise at Free State Rugby, for example; Rassie Erasmus, Jacques Nienaber, Niel Powell, Brendan Venter, Rory Duncan, Pine Pienaar, Pote Human and also Daan Human, which is now being applied at the highest levels in world rugby. ” Said Franco Smith, Toyota Cheetahs Director of Rugby.

 

 

Anton Leonard - Bulls Lineout specialist coachANTON LEONARD the Loftus legend steps into the role of LINEOUT SPECIALIST. Leonard played for the Vodacom Bulls between 2000 and 2008, leading the team with distinction during that period, and was also part of the winning Super Rugby team in 2007. The hard-running No8 also donned the green and gold on two occasions. Leonard started his coaching career at the Griquas in 2010 as a forward’s coach and later moved back to Pretoria to the join the coaching staff at Loftus in 2015.

 

 

 

 

Hayden Groepes - SKILLS COACH AS WELL AS KICKING AND KICKING STRATEGYHAYDEN GROEPES continues his rise within the ranks of the BBCo High-Performance division. He will assume the role of SKILLS COACH AS WELL AS KICKING AND KICKING STRATEGY. As a player, he started his career at the Western Province moving on to Boland, before making his way to Pretoria in 2010. The hard running and elusive fullback got his first taste of coaching and management as a technical analyst at Loftus in 2012.

 

 

 

 

John-William Meyer - Bulls HEAD TECHNICAL & PERFORMANCE ANALYSTStalwart JOHN-WILLIAM MEYER started his coaching career as a Technical Advisor at UP Tuks, and moved to the BB Co. in 2011, working his way up from the junior ranks into the Vodacom Super Rugby management team. Meyer retains the role of HEAD TECHNICAL & PERFORMANCE ANALYST going into the new season.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pine Pienaar - Defence Coach

PINE PIENAAR is back in the role of DEFENCE COACH. Pienaar is no stranger at Loftus, spending seven years between 2011 and 2017 within the coaching division, working as an assistant coach specialising in defence for all the teams across the BBCo, and even heading up the Currie Cup team. He started his professional career in rugby in 2006 with the Free State Cheetahs as their Director of Junior rugby and coach. He worked as a head coach for their U21s, Vodacom Cup and Currie Cup teams, and was also responsible for the recruitment and contracting of junior players. In 2018, he accepted the role of Director of Sport at Waterkloof High School and consulted to the Cheetahs on all levels from Pro14 to the juniors, including the Varsity Cup team. Pienaar also consulted to the Kubota Spears in Japan in 2018, advising coaches on their defensive principles and structures. Pienaar is a strong character that fully understands the inner workings of the ‘Blou Masjien’ and will no doubt be vital to the campaign in 2019.

 

 

Alan Zondagh - Bulls Director of RugbyALAN ZONDAGH will be ensuring that the Bulls goes back to our tested formula that ensures a similar brand of rugby is played throughout the ranks at Loftus, from the juniors all the way up to the Super Rugby team. This will be one of the vital tasks and roles high on the list of newly appointed DIRECTOR OF RUGBY.

 

 

 

 

 

Lood De Jager - Captain of the Blue BullsLOOD DE JAGER our Springbok lock will be wearing the coveted the CAPTAINS ARMBAND in 2019. De Jager’s sterling start to the 2018 season was cut short with a pectoral tear. The big lock was quick to appoint himself as an unspoken team assistant during his recovery, and remained close to the team and management contributing in any way possible… just one little example of his commitment, dedication and overall leadership. He will be deputised by Springbok flyhalf HANDRE POLLARD, who is also no doubt a shining example of the leadership within the #BullsFamily.

 

 

 

 

Pote Human - Head Coach of the BullsPOTE HUMAN  Head coach Pote Human on his leaders: “We’ve had some great leaders at Loftus, and often worked with a core group of guys that contributed to the leadership. We are once again spoilt for choice with guys like Burger Odendaal, Hanro Liebenberg, Duane Vermeulen, Schalk Brits, Ruan Steenkamp, Travis Ismaiel and Jesse Kriel to mention a few. However, Lood has grown into an inspirational leader, even during a time when he didn’t play much rugby, and I am positive that he will have the full support of everybody at Loftus.”

The remainder of the BBCo High-Performance coaching and management teams will be confirmed soon including the announcement of the SCRUM AND MAUL SPECIALIST COACH.

 

Some advice from my side… This is the time to start backing the Bulls as it’s now all about tradition, passion and the will to win again. Politics flew out the backdoor when Strauss was appointed as President so watch and back this team in 2019!!!! That’s an order!

 

By: JAY J BOTES

Twitter: @jayjbotes  |  Instagram: @jayjbotes  |  Facebook: @jayjbotes |  Youtube: @jayjbotes

 

Source:  Blue Bulls Media

#BullsFamily confirm Vodacom Super Rugby coaching staff