This year well established traditional rugby schools Monument, Paul Roos Gymnasium and Dale College bid farewell to leading figures in their rugby programmes.Monument in Krugersdorp will be parting ways with Director of Rugby Wynand Moolman at the end of the season. Moolman is a Lions man through and through. He cut his teeth as a University of Johannesburg (formerly RAU) junior coach. He has gone on to coach the Lions under-19 provincial team, the Golden Lions Craven Week team and off course the Monnas Wit Bulle. Moolman will take up the appointment of Deputy Headmaster and Director of Sport at a school in the coastal town of Walvis Bay in Namibia on 1 January 2013. Monnas is expected to name his replacement before the end of this year.
At Paul Roos Gymnasium, Head of Rugby Thys Stoltz is on his way out after just one season in charge. Scholtz was a former provincial lock that played for Western Province amongst other teams and has extensive rugby experience acquired both locally and abroad. Before joining the Stellenbosch school, he headed up a very successful Waterkloof in Pretoria, overseeing the 2011 first team, one of the best that Klofies had ever put on the field in their short history dating back to 1979. Soon after Scholtz parted ways with Klofies, they brought Naas Botha on board to assistant with coaching. One of the highlights of Scholtz’s short career at Paul Roos has to have been the opening of the redeveloped Markotter Stadium. However unlike the state of the art facilities, on the field of play, results fell below the high expectations set by the school and it was also believed that Scholtz struggled to blend at an institution steeped in 146 years of tradition. Hein Kriek the coach of the unbeaten Paul Roos under-15 team has been rewarded for his efforts and will assume the duties of Head Coach in place of Scholtz. Dawie Snyman (Snr) will take up the position of Skills Coach at Paul Roos in 2013. Dawie (snr) is the uncle of current WP junior coach Dawie (jnr) who was at Paul Roos prior to Scholz joining the high school.
Dale College old boy and head coach Grant “Griffy” Griffiths is off to join Hamilton Rugby Club in Cape Town. Although still in his 30’s, the coach has had a big impact in the Border region and will be missed. Along his journey as head coach he won an international rugby award and his legacy at Dale has been ensured by having captained the school’s last unbeaten rugby team back in 1993. Incidentally that 1993 first team also happened to be Dale’s last “All White” rugby team. This year Dale made history this year by fielding their first ever “All Black” team. Griffy has been described as a humble man with an eye for talent and a passion for his school. He has closed off this chapter of his coaching career on a high note. Dale’s 2011 and 2012 teams were amongst their most successful over the past decade.
@beet: They would certainly have bolstered an already impressive line-up, then again, at least the no. 1 school in Paarl will be there…
@Ploegskaar: Hopefully Boishaai will come to KERF
next yearin 2 years time. Even if fiction I will happily start that St Johns whole wine auction story all over again if it helps persuade them to come to KZN rather. Jokes!@BoishaaiPa: We always need all the help we can get, don’t we, although I think we may actually be fairly competitive again in 2013 with Tian and Heinrich at 10 and 15 and a solid pack as always. Injuries and (lack of) depth may again determine otherwise. I see you guys are doing St. John’s again in 2013, thought you would be at KERF. You doing a tour or something?
@Ploegskaar: Yes Ploeg..you probably need him more than we do!
@BoishaaiPa: Well, just before Paarl, when he takes the Wellington turn-off and then the BL turn-off at Windmeul.
@Playa: He is moving to the Western Cape I see..Aha…the man obviously knows where the talent is!
..It’s a short drive from Hamiltons to Paarl!
@Playa: had the pleasure of talking to him once or twice, helluva a gentleman, great coach as well, I think Border Schoolboy Rugby has lost the services of a great rugby mind
So, all these schools actually HAD coaches this year? Im surprized – particularly the one.
Griffy, a huge huge loss for Dale.Well done on putting Dale rugby back on the map.Hamiltons has gained immensely by acquiring your services.
Wishing you well in your new journey.Looking forward to enjoying a few pints with you at our ODU get-togethers at Hamiltons from next year.
Hein Kriek has the potential to become one of the best schoolboy coaches in the country. He coached 2 unbeaten teams in the last 3 years at 2 different schools. Yes, coaching an u19 team brings new challenges but I am confident Hein will not disappoint! Glad to have him on board!