Allister Coetzee
Long-serving DHL Stormers and DHL Western Province coach Allister Coetzee has chosen not to extend his contract at Western Province Rugby and will, instead, take up an opportunity abroad at the end of this year.
Coetzee, 51, will join Japanese club, Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers, having decided to put pen to paper this week.
“I have always said that I would make an announcement once I had made a decision about my future and my decision has now been made and communicated properly,” said Coetzee on the official DHL Stormers website.
“I’ve had eight fantastic years at Western Province Rugby and would like to thank my fellow coaches, players, the leadership of WP Rugby and, of course, the supporters here in Cape Town and across the country. My family and I have always been made to feel very welcome in Cape Town, but we have now been presented with a great opportunity and some exciting times await us in a very new and different environment.
“I will miss the DHL Stormers and some great people that I have come into contact with here,” added Coetzee, “but we still have a very long and challenging Super Rugby campaign ahead of us and that is my only focus at present as it has been during our pre-season build-up.”
WPRFU President Thelo Wakefield confirmed Coetzee’s departure, saying: “Allister must be congratulated on what he has achieved during his time in charge of both the DHL Stormers and DHL Western Province, he has been an asset to Western Province Rugby and he will be missed.
“I wish him and his family well, but we will say goodbye properly when the time comes. Allister still has a few big months ahead of him and I know that he will be doing his utmost to leave Cape Town on a high and add to his already impressive record as head coach of the DHL Stormers.”
Under the guidance of Coetzee, who has been head coach of DHL WP since 2008 and the DHL Stormers since 2010, the DHL Stormers have become one of the most consistent Vodacom Super Rugby teams on the circuit.
After losing an epic Super 14 Final to the Bulls in Soweto in 2010, Coetzee then coached the DHL Stormers to successive South African Conference titles in the extended Super Rugby competition in 2011 and 2012, the latter tournament seeing the team also top the overall log – to date, the only South African team to achieve that feat.
At ABSA Currie Cup level, meanwhile, DHL Western Province have won two titles under Coetzee’s leadership – in 2012 and 2014 – having, in total, contested four finals in the past five seasons, with two of those finals being at home and in succession.
WP Director of Rugby Gert Smal added: “We tried our best to keep Allister. Not only is he a fantastic coach but we have a great relationship – on and off the field.
“I am very sad to be losing him, but I can understand that he is seeking a new challenge – something which is close to my heart as I believe in empowering and constantly challenging coaches.”
Coetzee’s final release date has not been confirmed as yet (he will at least see out the 2015 Super Rugby season), but Smal has also announced that there will be a change in the management group of the DHL Western Province ABSA Currie Cup team.
Senior forwards coach Matt Proudfoot and senior backline coach Robbie Fleck, Coetzee’s long-time assistant coaches, will continue in their respective roles with the DHL Stormers at Vodacom Super Rugby level but Smal will be utilising them elsewhere during the 2015 ABSA Currie Cup season.
Proudfoot will head up a brand new project at WP Rugby, the self-explained ‘Tight Five Factory’, whilst Fleck will become the DHL Western Province Under 21 head coach in the second half of the season – all aimed at player development and, importantly, keeping the senior professional coaches fresh and allowing them to develop their own skills too in a different coaching environment.
John Dobson (head coach) and Dawie Snyman (assistant coach – backline) will, in turn, be promoted to ABSA Currie Cup level after five successful seasons in charge of both the DHL WP Under 21 and Vodacom Cup sides, all of which falls in line with Smal’s vision to empower all the professional coaches at the union.
Smal explained: “John Dobson and Dawie Snyman have both impressed me with their vision and, of course, their records speak for themselves – having won three trophies in five seasons and produced countless players who have moved into our Super Rugby and Currie Cup teams (and beyond).
“It was always my intention to give John and Dawie an opportunity at a higher level this season and I am positive that they will reward my faith in them and continue their progression as talented coaches. At the same time, Matt and Fleckie can spread their specialised knowledge from the bottom up – and thereby get a first-hand experience of our young talent within the union – and also develop their coaching in a new environment.
“Over the last few months we have now integrated the likes of Paul Treu, Hanyani Shimange and Rito Hlungwani into our coaching set-ups, plus we are able to use Allister Coetzee, Robbie Fleck and Matt Proudfoot in new, wider roles in the latter half of the season and, of course, (we are) set to give the likes of John and Dawie a deserved opportunity at a higher level.
“It’s an exciting time for all of our coaches, who will continue to be stimulated throughout the year, but with all of this news (and movement) now confirmed we can move into the 2015 Vodacom Super Rugby season without any off-field distractions and concentrate on the job at hand.”
The DHL Stormers will open their 2015 Vodacom Super Rugby campaign against the Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday 14 February (Kick-Off 19:10 SA Time). Their first home game – against the Blues at DHL Newlands – will take place the following Saturday 21 February, at 17:05 SA Time.
WP & Stormers Media Release
Matthew Proudfoot
Forwards coach Matthew Proudfoot might be joining Allister Coetzee at the departure desk of Cape Town International Airport at the end of Super Rugby. It is believed that Proudfoot will be headed for Argentina, where he will form part of the management of the new Super Rugby side from that country in 2016.
Coetzee and his assistants were said to be put out at the recent recruitment of former Springbok Sevens coach Paul Treu to the management, something that was announced in December but which took the incumbent coaches by surprise as there had been no consultation on the appointment.
WP director of rugby Gert Smal, effectively the head honcho when it comes to rugby related matters at the Cape union and the man who does the hiring and firing, has expressed his disappointment at the attitude towards the Treu appointment.
“I think Paul Treu is going to be a huge asset to WP rugby so people who are saying that it is a bad move probably don’t want to see us do well,” said Coetzee.
Smal has apparently told the management that he will be recruiting the replacement head coach from outside of the current group, which could also have been a factor in prompting Proudfoot to look for alternative employment.
Former Wallaby coach and Bok assistant Eddie Jones, who worked with Smal at the Boks during the 2007 World Cup, has been mooted as a possible replacement for Coetzee and the Japan coach was spotted in Cape Town last week. However a coach of Jones’ caliber would come at huge expense and it is difficult to see how WP can afford it, or why Jones would want to abandon his Japanese gig just as the four year cycle to the 2019 World Cup in that country begins.
It is understood that apart from the unilateral appointment of Treu, losing the Currie Cup job was another factor in Coetzee’s decision to move to Japan, where he will take up the coaching reigns of the Kobelco Steelers, effectively replacing new Sharks director of rugby Gary Gold.
SuperSport
Allister Coetzee reportedly told the Stormers players that he would be joining Japanese side Kobe Steelers after this year’s Super Rugby competition.
According to reports, Coetzee addressed his players during a meeting at the High Performance Centre in Bellville on Monday where he revealed his future plans.
@ nortie:
die chiefs mis die kapteinskap van Craig Clarke geweldig baie, daai ou was n yster gewees en hulle game het heeltamal geval toe hy waai… maar hulle het goeie spelers.
Ek sien Robbie Fruean is weer terug by die Crusaders, Chiefs sukkel ook met backup vir Cruden as h beseer is, hulle het weer geen spesialis loskakel die jaar nie… wat vir my vreemd is.
@ nortie:
Wel, alles sal oor tweke beginne ontvou. Ons hou maar all duime vas.
55 @ MacroBull:
Soos altyd.
@ MacroBull:
Is Nonu nie die jaar terug by die Canes nie? Hy is mos die ongeluksengel vir NZ spanne, dan nie?
My “dark horse” is die Highlanders. Ek dink hulle gaan top 6 maak die jaar.
60 @ MacroBull:
Nie seker al daai name gee te veel selfvertroue nie.
Pieter de Villiers se reputasie le iewers in Argentinia aan skerwe en sou seker in die Bok voorry se poephol gewees het as ons stutte se koppe nie klaar daar was nie.
Wat maak Louis Koen? Hy wys seker vir die losskakels n video van sy highlights en se vir hulle om presies die teenoorgestelde te doen as wat hy gedoen het.
61 @ MacroBull:
SBW is terug….sorted 😆
60 @ MacroBull:
As jy kyk na die ander name op die lys van die Mobi HP paneel (PdV, Koen, Roux) sal jy sien dat hulle gewoonlik voltyds by die Bokke betrokke is wanneer die Bokke speel. Mens kan seker verwag dat Nienaber dus ook voltyds by die Bokke gaan wees tydens die RC en die RWC.
@ Nama:
Die highlanders gaan ook geweldig gekniehalter word as Aaron Smith ontrek word deur die NZRU, hy het basies laasjaar hulle in die top 6 gekry op sy eie.
Ja Nonu is terug en hulle het ontslae geraak van daai werfetter Hadleigh Parkes 😀 sal die wereld se verskil wees.
62 @ Nama:
Die Highlanders is elke jaar die “dark horse”. Hulle gaan soos ons wees, iewers n ander span se party spoil, maar nie die pyp rook nie.
Waratahs, Chiefs, Crusaders, Sharks, Reds en dan tussen die Bulls, Brumbies, Canes vir die 6de plek
@ Nama:
Ek weet nie hoe meet ons voltyds nie, Ons hoor ook net in die media waneer hulle uithelp, n ou soos nienaber was voorheen nie deel gewees gedurende super rugby nie, terwyl hy nou saam met die eenheid gaan beweeg.
Ek dink die punt is hoewel hulle nie voltyds betrokke is met die Springbokke nie hulle well sal uithelp indien dit benodig word of additionele insetsels gelewer moet word.
@ nortie:
Ja dit is moeilik, want daar is ook net soveel afrigters wat beskikbaar is, in n ideale wereld sal hulle seker Akkerman wil aanstel vir die scrums, Eddie Jones of Graham Henry vir analysis ens.
Ritchy Gray is vir my die hoof knaap, as mens net meet hoe veel ouens soos Marcel Coetzee en Duane Vermeulen die laaste 3 jaar verbeter het as scavengers (fetchers 😆 ) by die losgemale.
Ek weet nie wie kry ons anders as skop afrigter nie en of die ou veel beter gaan wees nie, maar n ou soos Willie le Roux se skop voet het moer baie verbeter ook in die laaste 2 jaar. Ek self het geglo hy sal onefektief wees as loskakel, maar verlede jaar het hy n bal nogals ver geskop.
Mens kan altyd so n groot groep kritiseer as jy wil, veral as hulle nie “officially” iewers betrokke is nie.
@ nortie:
Ek weet nie of dit net hoe standaarde is nie, maar top6 sal net nie goed genoeg wees vir die Bulle nie
@ MacroBull:
Keo het laasjaar oor hoedat HM en sy span, buite die internasionale seisoen, met hul planne na skole gegaan het en dan skoleafrigters gevra het om dit in hul wedstrydplan te implementeer sodat hulle kan sien hoe dit op die speelveld uitwerk. Ek veronderstel dat alle hulpafrigters betrokke is by die opstel van hierdie planne. As daar dus ‘n aanvalsplan vanaf ‘n skrum is, moet PdV tog betrokke wees al is hy net ‘n konsultant. As daar ‘n aanvalsplan vanaf ‘n lugskop is, moet Koen betrokke wees. Om dieselfde rede sal Nienaber, volgens my, dan ook deurlopend betrokke wees in die beplanning van die Bokke se verdedigingspatroon.
Tydens die internasionale seisoen word die HP ouens dan gesekondeer na die Bokke, soos dit vir my lyk.
@ Nama:
Keo het laasjaar oor hoedat HM en sy span = Keo het laasjaar in ‘n artikel geskryf oor hoedat HM en sy span
@ Nama:
Ek glo daar sal “think tanks” wees soos op daai voorbeeld wat ju genoem het, ons het te min informasie om eerlik te wees oor wat presies elke dag gebeur, ons het ook geen skedule wat n ou soos Nienaber rondvolg nie om te weet wat hy elke dag van die week doen nie. Ek weet ook nie watse hulpspan saam met HM na die skole toe gegaan het nie en hoe gereeld dit gebeur nie, maar ek sien net nie die doel of die logika dat twee verdedigings afrigters “voltyds” by die bokke is nie en ons kan dit debateer tot ons blou raak in die gesig, ons sal nie die waarheid weet nie. Dalk kan GBS vir SARU kontak dat hulle hulle plan vir hom kan uitlê 😆
@ Nama:
het Brendan Venter nie ook so artikel geskryf nie?
This isnt everyones cup of tea, but what a tune
😆
74 @ MacroBull:
Noudat jy dit noem, dit kon hy gewees het, ja.
nortie wrote:
Hi nortie was lucky enough to get a chance to have a short chat with Mr Ludeke on Saturday after the game and think he is a really decent bloke – so there you go that’s how this Bulls supporter feels about him.
Bullscot wrote:
Go to the Bulls website and you’ll see what they think
Good guy doesn’t help if you’re in a building phase since 2010
Farking Frans
@ Bullscot:
The same way that AC comes across as a wonderful guy, but is he able to lead the Stormers to SR victory?….no.
One can find a host of reasons, from bad draw, injuries, game plan, inadequate players, meddling in the board room etc etc, the fact remains that being a nice bloke doesn’t necessarily equate to success on the field.
And judging by the general consensus of the majority of Bull supporters, they will definitely not shed any tears if Ludeke leaves the union, and this is a guy who, as we non Bulls must hear every season, has won the SR twice.
So imagine how we must feel, having nothing to show.
78 @ Bullscot:
Come to think of it, maybe being a right prick is the way to success….think Jake White, Graham Henry and even Smith.
Much maligned characters and seen to be sour and prats, but their teams bring home the bacon.
Even Brendan Venter isn’t the most endearing coach and doesn’t subscribe to being a nice guy and swopping spit with the media, but he knows what he is doing.
Likewise Nick Mallet.
So to all aspiring coaches who want success…..don’t be a nice guy, they finish last 😆
80: naand almal. Nortie, my seun vra my nou ‘n vraag oor superrugby, kan jy my help met die antwoord asemblief:
Hoeveel keer het die Bulle al die superbeker gewen?
Ben-die-Bul wrote:
Goeie vraag
@ Victoriabok:
@ nortie:
Look just like any others I want the teams I support to win but maybe a lot of the fans hassle is down to unrealistic expectations. It is only natural after you have tasted success to want and expect more but there have been a lot of changes to staff to deal with, lots of top players away, director and 3 coaches gone to the Boks and then a while later Team manager a man who was a constant there for so long also gone. Think most businesses going through such a lot of change and dealing with the turnover of so many top class people would take a while to adjust, and after all its not as if all the other teams we face in Super rugby are palookas. Then there is a board above the players and coaching staff as well. So for me it is just too easy to pick a scape goat, problem is once folk have made up their mind about a player or coach it is hard to change and then ascribe any success to them. Just look at who is credited with the Super rugby titles his predecessors and the top players only, and am guessing any amount of success this season will be said by these ‘majority of fans’ to be due to the players and Victor Matfield coaching too, anybody but Frans Ludeke, of course any lack of success will be pinned straight back on him…
I can’t debate much about the games and areas where improvement is required as you guys see a lot more of the team playing than I but maybe this distance helps to let me view things from a different and perhaps less emotive perspective.
testes testes
Attachment:
Bullscot wrote:
He had the good fortune to have a big part of the 2007 World Cup team at his disposal, all were in the 2007 S14 winning team as well
If you start with that your chances of winning the S14 goes up a lot and he won two more with the team that Heyneke built
If you see what he achieved when he had to bring youngsters through like last year or 2011, it was basically a carbon copy of his tenure at the Lions which ended in them asking him to go
The best SR coaches in SA are Ackermann, Stonehouse, AC, Gold and then the rest in that order
Ben-die-Bul wrote:
😆
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