Frans Ludeke
Nollis Marais
Barend van Graan
The Blue Bulls Company (Pty) Ltd and the Blue Bulls Company Board of Directors on Saturday 13 June 2015 confirmed the following:
- Frans Ludeke to step down from his position as Super Rugby and ABSA Currie Cup Head Coach with immediate effect.
- Appointment of Nollis Marais as new head coach of the Vodacom Blue Bulls for the 2015 ABSA Currie Cup season.
- Process to appoint a new Vodacom Bulls Head Coach for Super Rugby 2016 ongoing.
- Extension of CEO, Barend van Graan’s contract until January 2019 (from February 2015).
The Blue Bulls Company (Pty) Ltd and the Blue Bulls Company Board of Directors in a statement on Saturday 13 June 2015 confirmed a number of coaching changes to the Vodacom Bulls and Vodacom Blue Bulls structures with regards to the ABSA Currie Cup 2015 season and the Vodacom Super Rugby season in 2016.
The Board of Directors indicated that Frans Ludeke will step down from his position as Super Rugby and Currie Cup Head Coach with immediate effect. Discussions with Ludeke about his future is ongoing as well as the process to appoint a new Head Coach for Super Rugby 2016. An announcement will be made as soon as this has been finalized.
The Blue Bulls Company Board of Directors also confirmed a decision in February 2015 to extend the contract of CEO, Barend van Graan until January 2019.
The Blue Bulls Company (Pty) Ltd is also pleased to announce the appointment of Nollis Marais as new head coach of the Vodacom Blue Bulls for the 2015 ABSA Currie Cup season with immediate effect.
The 43-year old Marais said of his appointment: “This is a dream come true for me and something I have always wanted to do and worked towards in the various Blue Bulls structures. I would like to thank John Newbury, Chairman of the Board as well as other directors, the BBRU and president Gert Wessels and also the BBC and CEO, Barend van Graan for their confidence in me to take over this important position. I would also like to thank Frans Ludeke, Johann van Graan and Heyneke Meyer who served as mentors to me.”
Marais, an accredited IRB (World Rugby) level 3 coach, has been involved with coaching at all levels in the union, starting his coaching career way back in 2003 as Under 15 coach of Overkruin High School in Pretoria. He has progressed through the ranks and in recent years coached UP-Tuks in the Varsity Cup (2010 – 2015), the Vodacom Blue Bulls Under 21’s (2011 – 2015) and the Vodacom Blue Bulls Vodacom Cup team (2013 – 2015), winning the Varsity Cup and ABSA Under 21 Provincial Championship on his way to becoming the new Currie Cup coach.
He will meet with the various stakeholders soon and promises total commitment and passion to make sure the Vodacom Blue Bulls continue as one of the most successful teams in the history of the ABSA Currie Cup.
“We will have a change in approach in the way we do things and play the game and I am excited about the mixture of talent we have between the youngsters in our system and the senior players. I have worked with all but 5 of the players in our squad before, so I’m very keen to continue in my efforts to assist them in becoming the best players they can be.”
Marais called on the Blue Bulls supporters and sponsors to rally behind the team. “Every player and member of management will leave nothing out there on the field in our effort to make you proud of us. We can only succeed with all your support, but will earn it the hard way, by delivering on the field,” Marais said.
New coaching teams for the Vodacom Blue Bulls Currie Cup, Under 21 Currie Cup and Under 19 Currie Cup teams respectively will be announced and communicated early next week.
Die Blou Bulle Maatskappy (Edms) Bpk en Blou Bulle Maatskappy se Raad van Direkteure het die volgende besluite in ‘n verklaring op Saterdag 13 Junie 2015 bevestig:
- Frans Ludeke staan met onmiddelike effek terug van sy posisie as afrigter van die Vodacom Super Rugby- en ABSA Curriebekerspanne.
- Die aanstelling van Nollis Marais as hoofafrigter van die Vodacom Blou Bulle vir die 2015 ABSA Curriebekerseisoen.
- Die aanstellingsproses om ‘n nuwe hoofafrigter vir die Vodacom Bulls in die 2016 Vodacom Super Rugby kompetisie aan te stel is reeds van stapel gestuur.
- Verlenging van die kontrak van die HUB van die BBM, Barend van Graan, tot Januarie 2019 (vanaf Februarie 2015).
Die Blou Bulle Maatskappy (Edms) Bpk en Blou Bulle Maatskappy se Raad van Direkteure het die volgende besluite rakende die ABSA Curriebekerkompetisie in 2015 en die Vodacom Super Rugby kompetisie in 2016 in ‘n verklaring op Saterdag 13 Junie 2015 bevestig.
Die direksie het aangedui dat Frans Ludeke dadelik terugstaan as hoofafrigter van die Vodacom Bulls en Vodacom Blou Bulle in die ABSA Curriebekerkompetisie in 2015 en die Vodacom Super Rugby toernooi in 2016. Gesprekke oor Ludeke se toekoms en die proses om ‘n nuwe afrigter vir 2016 aan te stel duur voort. ‘n Aankondiging hieroor sal op ‘n geleë tyd in die toekoms gemaak word.
Die BBM direksie het ook bevestig dat die kontrak van die Uitvoerende Hoofbeampte, Barend van Graan, tot Januarie 2019 verleng is (vanaf Februarie 2015).
Die Blou Bulle Maatskappy kondig ook graag aan dat Nollis Marais met onmiddelike effek as die nuwe hoofafrigter van die Vodacom Blou Bulle aangestel is wat in die 2015 ABSA Curriebekerkompetisie gaan speel.
Die 43-jarige Marais het die volgende oor sy aanstelling gesê: “Dit is ‘n droom wat waar word vir my en iets wat ek nog altyd wou doen en nagestreef het deur middel van die verskillende Blou Bulle strukture. Ek wil graag die voorsitter van die direksie, John Newbury, en sy mede direkteure, sowel as die president van die BBRU, Gert Wessels en die BBM en sy HUB, Barend van Graan bedank vir die vertroue wat hulle in my stel om hierdie belangrike pos te vul. Ek bedank ook graag vir Frans Ludeke, Johan van Graan en Heyneke Meyer, wat as mentors baie vir my beteken het.”
Marais, ‘n geakkrediteerde Vlak 3 IRR (World Rugby) afrigter, was op alle vlakke van afrigting in die unie betrokke sedert hy in 2003 die Hoërskool Overkruin se Onder 15’s begin afrig het. Hy het deur die strukture ontwikkel en gevorder en was meer onlangs die afrigter van UP-Tuks in die Varsitybeker (2010 – 2015), Vodacom Blou Bulle Onder 21 (2011 – 2015) en die Vodacomspan van die Vodacom Blou Bulle ((2013 – 2015). Marais het onder meer die Varsitybeker en ABSA Onder 21 Provinsiale kampioenskap gewen op pad na sy aanstelling as hoofafrigter van die Blou Bulle se Curriebekerspan.
Hy sal binnekort met die nodige belanghebbendes en rolspelers begin gesels en het totale toewysing en passie beloof om te verseker die Blou Bulle behou sy vaandel as een van die mees tooaangewende spanne in die geskiedenis van die ABSA Curriebeker.
“Ons gaan ‘n ander aanslag in die manier van dinge doen en manier van speel bewerkstellig en ek is baie opgewonde oor die goeie mengsel van junior en senior spelers tot my beskikking. Ek het al met almal behalwe 5 van die spelers in die groep gewerk, so is gretig om aan te gaan met my bydrae om hulle te help ontwikkel om die beste spelers te word wat hulle kan wees.”
Marais het ‘n beroep op die Blou Bul ondersteuers en die unie se borge gedoen om agter die span te snoer, “Elke speler en bestuurslid gaan sy allerbeste gee en alles gee wat daar is om seker te maak ons maak almal vanjulle trotse ondersteuners en borge. Ons kan net suksesvol wees as almal saamwerk, maar wil julle respek op die harde manier kry, deur dit op die veld te verdien,” het Marais gesê.
Die nuwe afrigtersgroepe vir die Vodacom Blou Bulle se Curriebekerspan, Onder 21 en Onder 19 spanne sal volgende week bekend gemaak en aangekondig word.
A move in the right direction to axe Ludeke… and maybe even to appoint Nollis Marais for the Currie Cup only.
The fact that they have not made clear whether Ludeke will be the Director of Rugby or not, is troublesome. If you clean up, you do it properly or you leave it in total, otherwise you are bound to leave some gunk behind!
The Fact that CEO Barend van Graan’s tenure has been extended to January 2019 is ridiculous!
So i assume vic is definately going to the wc? 😆
Nolis marais is probably the better option at this stage… Really worried about the support staff though… Is wessel roux seriously still the scrum coach? Ludekrous.
Also not happy with the dictatorship in the board room… Those guys must be getting insane bonuses, from all the profits of letting every single established player go over the last 5 years. Freeing up a lot of money.
What I can’t understand is why the Bulls can’t contract players like other unions
The Stormers and Sharks had press releases outlining player movements and new additions
The Bulls keep telling us about all the players leaving but no new players?
With all the money they will save on salaries they could afford to buy us at least a lock or two and a good scrumhalf
Cheers Frans.
I think this was long overdue. His inability to adapt was his downfall. Also his trust in certain assistant coaches and players.
Lets not forget his successes.
2 Super Rugby titles. This is some of my greatest super rugby memories. In 2009, some of my family flew in from OZ just for the final. I had to scramble to get extra tickets. End up paying a ridicules price for the extra tickets. But it was worth every cent. What a great game.
Also 2010 in Orlando. What a great experience that was. My ears rang for 2 days after, but damn it was good. Parked in somebodies back yard. We were parked in for a few hours, so we had to stay and join the after party. Was great fun.
I thank him for this memories and wish him well for the future.
It is time for Barend to also move on.
The junior Boks playing in the WC are packed full of Bulls players plus the U21 side that won the CC.
It’s time for the Bulls to invest in developing the players that they do have and get rid of the passengers.
Many of them are leaving in any event.
There is a challenge in the front row but thats not new. The rest of the squad are fine, they just have to train and get back the team gees.
Or not, I guess it’s all the same to me…..
@ leon:
“End up paying a ridicules price for the extra tickets.”
I think you meant Ludekeles Prices.
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