September 2024.
Westville’s 1st XV rugby head coach, Njabulo “Jabz” Zulu, has decided to leave his alma mater and join King Edward VII School (KES). He’s looking forward to the change of scenery that Joburg has to offer.
Jabz is one of the genuinely nice guys in the sport and a great human being. Despite the immense pressure of the job, the highs and lows that come with the position never seemed to affect his humility or the positive, joyful character he displayed after matches.
He leaves Westville on a high note. While the results didn’t always go Westville’s way in 2024, it was difficult to fault the brand of rugby they showcased each weekend. The players were coached to express themselves through positive, creative, high-IQ rugby, feeding off the passion that comes with donning the Griffin jersey. These are just a few of the many qualities that KES rugby enthusiasts can look forward to with Jabz in the mix.
Interestingly, Jabz missed out on the opportunity to have a standout season in 2021 due to Covid. His decision to join the Red Army means he forfeits the chance to take charge of what could potentially be a strong Ville team in 2025.
At KES, he will take on the role of mentor for their scholarship programme, a physical education teacher, and an administrator in the admissions department. His exact rugby role is yet to be determined.
@Raps (Comment )
I have a few thoughts on you post.
In a way you define the KZN challenge nowadays. A decade back Glenwood were the only real constant in terms of strength. Now you have a league full of Glenwood like teams and not all can be successful. In order for one or two to achieve others have to underachieve or even fail.
On the weekend I bumped into one of the KZN school recruiters. He mentioned character to me and pointed specifically to integrating booster players who arrive as gr.11s or gr.12s. The school has had little influence over shaping their character for more than half their high school careers and then takes on the responsibility of at the very minimum keeping them on the straight and narrow for their short stay at the new school with differing degrees of success and impact on the rest of the changeroom culture and school environment in general (classroom and boarding). No doubt the school acquires a good rugby player but I think here a school can get lucky or they can get unlucky with the character that comes along with the talent. Sometimes the headaches outweigh the advantages. Other times the real progress and life changing breakthroughs are not seen on the scoreboard.
Brent is an excellent coach. I have sort of followed him since his days at Grey HS. I thought he was destined for great things but SA and even rugby abroad is not the most merit rewarding industry to be part of and a good deal of the time the cream can’t rise all the way to the top. Anyways the reservation I have about Brent is his staying power. The school coaching contracts should be longer – 3 years is crazy. Too short. But the last thing a school needs is a coach who comes on board and in his heart of hearts knows his abilities deserve to be tested at a higher level and so keeps the door open to the next move up the ladder, which might come as soon as 6 months down the line.
Gave him a bit of stick recently because I felt like a school like Ville should be doing way better with everything considered. Maybe this is what he needs and what’s important what Ville need. Brent Janse Van Rensburg would do wonders or any coach with high level coaching/ playing experience like DHS and Hilton have
Interesting, he worked at Parktown for quite a few years before going to Westville. Great rugby coach and an even better person. I’m sure he’ll work wonders at KES!
Thanks for this info…
Yikes, Beet knows what is what hey?
@Skywalker (Comment #1)
Yeah a few really big changes at Clifton.
Ross who was the longest serving KZN head coach has called it a day. From what I have heard his business is doing really well. Ross is a good coach and has been a great servant to Clifton and I think there are many people including myself who would have loved to see what he could have achieved working with a 1st XV from a bigger school with more depth (no disrespect to CC as they have done really well to elevate themselves prior to having a BE and with small numbers).
Grant Bell will also be stepping down at CC. Hopefully like Ross, we have not seen the last of him in a coaching capacity in KZN. He has a great rugby brain and knows how to get the best out of kids. He is also very well organised for the admin burden that cross over coaches who serve as HoR’s have to bear as well.
So Jose dos Santos is coming in as HoR at Clifton and I think they are yet to appoint a new HC. Jose is a good guy and will add value from Day 1 but I suspect that the lateness of the changes is going to impact on the 2025 season.
@Skywalker (Comment #1)
Yeah it will be interesting to see who takes over. Ville has got continuity in the form of their DOR Dusty Noble who seems to be quite hands on and they have a few internal options like Zander Erasmus (who is also a great commentator for broadcasts – a bit laid back but really good at identifying and relaying the important technical bits that happen during matches)
Anyways whoever gets the job could be off to a grand start if next year’s team clicks. And in SBR a coach’s reputation is enhanced for years to follow if he has a good season.
Big news. I wonder who will take over from him? Westville certainly produced some excillerating rugby this year.
So a new Head Coach for Westville and Kearsney next year. Any other moves?