Robbie Fleck
Robbie Fleck has been appointed interim head coach of the DHL Stormers for the 2016 Vodacom Super Rugby season.
Fleck, who has been an assistant coach for the franchise since 2010, has been acting as the DHL Stormers’ coaching co-ordinator since the departure of coach Eddie Jones to England.
Fleck had a highly successful 2015 season as head coach to the DHL WP Under 21 team, losing only 1 game on the way to securing the ABSA Provincial Under 21 trophy this year.
Commenting on the appointment, WPRFU President Thelo Wakefield said: “WP Director of Rugby, Gert Smal, has done a thorough investigation into all available and interested coaches for the position. Robbie Fleck is a Western Province man through-and-through.
“He understands the environment having had extensive experience as an assistant coach at Super Rugby level and as a former WP, Stormers and Springbok player. In addition, he showed his mettle as a head coach this year, dominating the ABSA Under 21 competition. He deserves his opportunity and we are proud to be able to grow one of our own.”
The collective coaching approach that has been in place for the entire DHL Stormers pre-season, has seen all the union’s senior coaches working together to ensure the alignment of playing style and coaching methodology. Fleck will continue to draw on the skills and support of all the senior coaches at Western Province.
Director of Rugby Gert Smal added: “We will all continue to provide maximum support and back-up to Robbie and wish him well as he takes the reigns. We will reassess the Super Rugby coaching position at the end of the 2016 DHL Stormers season again.”
Commenting on his appointment as interim head coach, Robbie Fleck said: “As a Province man it’s a massive honour and a privilege.
“I am really appreciative of the faith been shown in me and in conjunction with all my colleagues will continue to prepare the squad on the path chosen.”
thestormers
Congratulations Robbie Fleck all the best for the season. What I can’t understand is the term ‘interim coach’, when I read it I thought it meant he would be in charge for the first few weeks or months to see f he proves himself or while they find someone else, but he has actually been appointed for the whole Super Rugby season, that’s quite a long ‘interim’ or am I just being dof
@ Bullscot:
Perhaps they came up with the term ‘interim coach’ in an attempt to save face for not meeting the 3 criteria Gert Smal originally laid down for a coach:
1 Six years as a Super Rugby coach
2. International experience
3 Someone who wants to emphasise attack.
As a WP/Stormers fan I wish Fleckie all the best, he’s been thrown in at the deep end and I hope he can swim with the big boys. Fingers were always pointed at him for the lack of attacking flair while he has been Coetzee’s assistant, but perhaps it was the head coach’s conservative approach that held Fleckie’s influence back, only time will tell.
@ modawg:
I can only agree with you.
Not my 1st choice by a long stretch but he has been appointed now and I can only wish him all the best. Should at least be able to take Stormers to the play offs with the new format coming into effect next season.
Fleckie sounds like a fun guy to be around as,and he actually knows a bit about wide open WP running rugby,however we didn’t get too see much of that when he was the backline coach and whether that was because of Coetzee.He did well with the U-21 team though which WP won in 2015,and Gert will mentor him I’m sure.
The down-side is that he is unproven,so this is a very big ask.He says he wants to retain the defensive quality of recent years,but then add the freak fitness to it that allows for 80 minutes of attack,so lets see.If it was up to me I’d rather have the “konfyt-met-onbyt” Fleckie coach, than say “iemand wat klink asof hy so suur kan wees dat ‘n mens skaars met hom kan praat” John Mitchell…
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5 @ provincefan:
Is that a selfie of you while you are talking rugby? Nothing else matters 😉
MacroPolo wrote:
Yes, Provincefan is busy setting up his cameras before he does some crouch, pause, enagage with the visiting “front row”.
Or are they a “loose trio”?
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@ Victoriabok:
I wish the man well, but fear for the Stormers’ fans that it may take a while to render the desired results.
9 @ Scrumdown:
But he doesn’t have a while as he is only an ‘interim’ coach.
Poor guy is on a hiding to nothing.
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