Heyneke Meyer makes a dramatic return to the Bulls in the capacity of Director of Rugby, with Frans Ludeke continuing as head coach in next year’s Super 14. This has now been confirmed by means of a press release from the Bulls, contained hereunder in Afrikaans, then in English. In other related news it is reported that Frans Ludeke has signed for another 3 years at the Bulls.

Heyneke Meyer will return to his beloved Bulls, where he won three Currie Cups and the first Super 14 title ever won by a local coach. The Bulls had scheduled a press conference for 14:00 today,  Tuesday, at Loftus Versfeld in which they made an announcement about the “strategic changes” in the Blue Bulls Company.

The new structure is based on the model successfully utilized in most Premiership football sides whereby Meyer would be involved in overseeing the Bulls’ structures while he could also be closely involved in team strategy, tactics and player recruitment.

Ludeke will continue to be in control of day-to-day playing issues and man-management and he will be responsible for daily training and preparation. Frans Ludeke has just signed a renewal of is contract with the Bulls for another 3 years. Recently, former Sharks coach Dick Muir was appointed in the same capacity (which Meyer now holds at the Bulls) with the Lions while Rassie Erasmus will fulfill a similar role with the Stormers in 2010.

Here is the Official Afrikaans version of the Press release, followed by the English version:

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Die Blou Bulle Maatskappy (Edms) Bpk het die dienste van Heyneke Meyer bekom deur hom Dinsdag by Loftus Versfeld as die Uitvoerende Hoof: Rugby-afrigting aan te stel.

As die Uitvoerende Hoof: Rugby-afrigting sal Meyer verantwoordelik wees om die volgende in die onderstaande departemente te bestuur:

• ‘High Performance’: Bestuur en koördineer al die afrigtingsstrukture (professioneel sowel as amateur) om die ontwikkeling van die spel op alle vlakke te bevorder insluitende op klub- en ‘cluster’-vlak. Hy is verder verantwoordelik om ander ondersteunende aspekte soos ontwikkeling, sportwetenskap/geneeskunde te bestuur en te koördineer.
• Ontwikkeling: Om die klubs sowel as die ‘clusters’ se afrigters by te staan.
• Opleiding: Om ‘n verskeidenheid van kursusse en klinieke vir afrigters en skeidsregters te inisieer en aan te bied.Meyer, wat saam met die Blou Bulle vier Curriebekers sowel as ‘n Super 14 gewen het, is ook verantwoordelik om die strukture wat hy in 2000 in plek gesit het, verder uit te bou en te verbeter.
• Die ‘High Performance’ Bestuurder, Ian Schwartz, kan Meyer van tyd tot tyd nader om te help met werwing en talent-identifisering en saam met die hoofafrigter Frans Ludeke sal hy volhoubare strategieë betreffende spelers en afrigters uitwerk.
• Meyer (Uitvoerende Hoof: Rugby-afrigting), Schwartz (‘High Performance’ Bestuurder) en Ludeke (Hoofafrigter) rapporteer almal aan die Maatskappy se Hoof Uitvoerende Beampte, Barend van Graan, en laasgenoemde rapporteer op sy beurt aan die Direksie.

Dit is interessant om te weet dat Meyer, Schwartz en Ludeke in 1999 by die SWD Arende saamgewerk toe hulle die halfeindstryd van die Curriebeker gehaal het en dit is ‘n grootse vooruitsig dat hulle drie weer saam is om die Bulle op die voorpunt van wêreldsport te hou. Hulle komplimenteer en vertrou mekaar en hul hoofdoelwit sal wees om te verseker dat die Bulle in die toekoms weer bereik wat in 2009 vermag is.

Danksy Meyer se bewese ervaring as hoofafrigter sal hy as klankbord vir ál die afrigters dien en dit sal sy taak wees om hulle van informasie betreffende die nuutste tendense in die spel te voorsien. Die Bulle se Vodacombeker-, Onder 21- en Onder 19-afrigters sal in dié verband direk aan Meyer rapporteer.

As die Uitvoerende Hoof: Rugby-afrigting is Meyer ‘n lid van die Maatskappy se Strategiese Komitee en deel van al die ander strukture en forums van sowel die Maatskaappy as die Blou Bulle Rugby-Unie.

Meyer sê dit is ‘n groot eer om weer saam met die Bulle te werk en hy is baie opgewonde oor die nuwe rol wat hy in die Blou Bul-familie gaan speel.

“My hoofdoelwit sal wees om saam met die ander afrigters en rolspelers die Bulle na ‘n volgende vlak te neem.

“Ons teenstanders word by die dag beter en daarom moet ons toesien dat ons strukture en strategiese planne van só ‘n aard is dat ons aan die voorpunt van die rugbywêreld bly.

“Dit is lekker om terug te wees en ek sien baie uit na al die nuwe uitdagings.”

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The Blue Bulls Company (Pty) Ltd has secured the services of Heyneke Meyer by appointing him as the Executive: Rugby Coaching at Loftus Versfeld on Tuesday afternoon.

As the Executive: Rugby Coaching, Meyer will be responsible to manage the following in the following departments:

• High Performance: Manage and co-ordinate all coaching structures and services required to support the development of the game covering all the Vodacom Blue Bulls’ professional and amateur teams including the clusters and clubs. He will also manage and co-ordinate other relevant aspects such as development, sports science/medicine, and related support services.
• Game development: To support cluster and club coaches.
• Training & Education: To present various specialised courses and clinics for coaches and referees.Meyer, who has led the Blue Bulls to four Currie Cup titles as well as Super 14 glory, is also responsible to enhance and maintain the existing structures which he initiated in 2000.
• In addition to this, the High Performance Manager, Ian Schwartz, may also approach him from time to time to assist with talent Identification and recruitment as well as putting into place succession plans for all players and coaches in consultation with the head coach Frans Ludeke.

Meyer (Executive: Rugby Coaching), Ludeke (Head coach Super 14 & Currie Cup) and Schwartz (High Performance Manager) will all report to the CEO, Barend van Graan.

It is interesting to note that Meyer, Schwartz and Ludeke were working together at the SWD Eagles in 1999 when they reached the semi-finals of the Currie Cup and it is a great prospect that they have reunited in order to keep the Bulls at the pinnacle of world sport. They compliment and trust each other and their main goal will be to ensure that the Bulls will be able to repeat in the future what they have done in 2009.

Owing to his vast experience as a top professional coach the highly creative and ingenious Meyer will serve as a soundboard for all Blue Bulls coaches by providing advice and support and he will be responsible to equip all Blue Bulls coaches with new (up to date) information and trends in the game. With this in mind the coaches of the Vodacom Cup, Under 21 and Under 19 teams will report to Meyer.

As the Executive: Rugby Coaching Meyer is a member the Blue Bulls Company Strategic Committee and all other applicable Blue Bulls Company and BBRU structures and forums i.e. Rugby Coordinating Committee.