Maritzburg College’s revolving door of 1st XV head coaches swings again

Nico Breedt has resigned as Maritzburg College’s head coach after just one season at the helm. He is reportedly heading to an agricultural school in the Cape Winelands, where he will combine rugby coaching with a formal school management role.

This marks the 13th different 1st XV head coach change in 18 seasons at Maritzburg College (including the two cut short by Covid), underlining just how volatile the position has become. For context, Chelsea FC – an English football club renowned for managerial turnover – has had 14 changes in the same period.

Maritzburg College

1 Bryan Bateman (2007)
2 Bruce Collocott (2008-2009)
3 Piet Snyman (2010)
4 Steve Botha (2011)
5 Ryan Strudwick (2012-2013)
6 Kevin Smith (2014)
7 Francois Lubbe (2015)
8 Kevin Smith (2016)
9 Ryan Kyle (2017)
10 Tim Orchard (2018)
11 Cameron Frazer (2019-2021)
12 Tim Orchard (2022-2024)
13 Nico Breedt (2025)

Chelsea FC

1 Avram Grant: (2007–2008)
2 Luiz Felipe Scolari: (2008–2009)
3 Guus Hiddink: (2009)
4 Carlo Ancelotti: (2009–2011)
5 André Villas-Boas: (2011–2012)
6 Roberto Di Matteo: (2012)
7 Rafael Benítez: (2012–2013)
8 José Mourinho: (2013–2015)
9 Guus Hiddink: (2015–2016)
10 Antonio Conte: (2016–2018)
11 Maurizio Sarri: (2018–2019)
12 Frank Lampard: (2019–2021)
13 Thomas Tuchel: (2021–2022)
14 Enzo Maresca: (2025–Present)