Glenwood have moved swiftly to fill the 1st XV head coaching position vacated by Sean Erasmus who has moved to Paarl Boys High. Assistant coach Rudi Dames will be the man steering the Green ship from 2014 onwards.
It was no-brainer for the school decision-makers really. Not many schools are privileged enough to have the sort of coaching depth the Green Machine had at 1st XV level.
After 8 years as a Glenwood 1st XV assistant coach, the relatively young Rudi Dames has paid his dues and earned the right to step into the hot seat at Glenwood. As far as school rugby is concerned Rudi could not have asked for two better mentors to serve under. Most recently he was wingman to Sean Erasmus who has reshaped Glenwood rugby and before Rudi learned from the Glenwood icon himself Toppy Hortop.
Rudi’s experience is not restricted to school rugby either. He is active in club rugby, does skills specific consulting for the Sharks Academy and during this past 2013 season he was also the assistance Sharks under-21 coach.
With the easy part of the appointment process is now out of the way, Glenwood now has to shift it’s focus to finding an assistant for Rudi. Ideally they will be looking for a forwards man. Those have proven tricky to find in KZN.
All the best to Rudi Dames. There is no doubt that expectations are high and there will be pressure to continue building on the good foundations laid by both Sean and Toppy.
@Tjoppa: But can she coach?
Another Boertjie to try and rescue? Interesting his brother Jaco is head coach at Overkruin Hoerskool in Pretoria. Also nice boy but must admit his wife is nicer.
@Grasshopper: No, just interested to know what the Kearsney Position was – have heard they use Kuma Sutra as an option.
@McCulleys Workshop: so are you saying the Kearsney job is harder to get? What is interesting is both the head coach (Barend) and assistant (SE) for KZN schools have moved on so it will a completely different set-up. Now both guys were considered honourable and trustworthy but they were still accused of biased selections. Let’s see what the new coaching team can do and who they pick. Hopefully it’s unbiased and fair selections based on form and not reputation or allegiances…..we live in hope!
@Green Hopper: give the poor guy a chance! Give him 3 seasons to see what he can do before judging. If he goes the attacking rugby route, I’m all for it. This forward orientated ‘boring/winning’ rugby can be left for Super rugby. These kids must play to enjoy it, so running in tries. They may concede a few too and lose a few, far better though than a win at all costs negative game plan. Glenwood doesn’t have the pack to compete with Affies etc but certainly do have the pace, play to our strengths. Good luck Rudi!
@Green Hopper: ” it would have been better if we tried the Kearsney position” Hopper, this position is not easily achieved and takes dedication and practice.
@Greenwood: yes the boys do know, they hear things , overhear, they see what’s happening, its true Rudi has been running things, and if this is to be believed , than the results achieved bear semblance on his ability, like last year when he was intimately involved,
Having agreed that he probably had more control over the last two years , GW have seen a marked decrease in ascendency and results .
I have always noted that just because you were a player doesn’t make you a great coach and Rudi is an example of this , yes he possibly is good in the reserve position of assistant , but his results when alone at the head have not been to the standard GW has experienced over the previous 4 – 5 years.
But I am not saying that SE was the answer, SE had lost focus, wanted bigger things, and possibly tried to run before he could walk.
But as Toppy once mentioned to SE and Rudi , again heard by the boys on the training paddock when the 1st team wanted access to the field , I ( Toppy) have beaten Grey , you haven’t .
Says something for the man Toppy was, never flash, but a Rugby Brain, many of the players SE and Rudi had since 2006 to 2011 came from the stewardship of one Great Toppy Hartop
A man and coach following in this is Webber, Glenwood has lost the opportunity and gone for flash over substance. Look at Webbers CV , far better, far better results, even at Club level, But he isn’t flash or played , and I think this was the difference in appointment
Personally I think coming up from assistant coach is never a good thing, it would have been better if we tried the Kearsney position
Like I said at the end of last season , lets review this end of next season ,
Rudi is a hot shot, especially with backs . Play the unexpected and expect it Rudi and remember; noli illegitimi carborundum!!!!!!
If Rudi was behind the running backline play in 2013 then I’m a happy old boy. This is the level to allow creativity, let the boys run! We don’t have to win and we must not play boring Bulls rugby. I love watching schoolboys run. Dale and Bishops always do it and it’s exciting!
I am really happy for Rudi he deserves to be a head coach, l think Glenwood is the team to watch in 2014.
I’m really happy for Rudi. I thought Glenwood would be insane to go shopping for any other coach.
In 2013 Glenwood came out and played this brand new brand of expansive rugby which resulted in them scoring a lot of tries. It will interesting to see what new game plans Rudi has lined up. As mentioned he has spent 8 years assisting so he must know Glenwood rugby like the back of his hand and have a really good of the direction he wants to take the team in.
Yes, good luck Rudi! Hopefully he can step out of Erasmus’s shadows and perform well. Also, please remember Nihil Humani Alienum!!!
Good luck Rudi; good bloke that!
Well done to Rudi – it had to be!!!
Heard Sean Van Rensburg from Voortrekker will be coming in as Director of Rugby, not sure if that is true. I think Rudi and Sean could be a good combo…
The lightie told me this months ago – even before Sean moved on
I didn’t really believe him though – He said that in recent times even while Sean was still at Gwd- Rudi was more involved with the Machine than Sean
Again I say it – The Boys seem to know more about the politics with the school that most realize
But Rudi sounds very capable and all the best to him