Klofies’ Cobus van Dyk reflects on his roots in Christiana, North West

Cobus van Dyk has been promoted to Director of Rugby at Waterkloof, where he will continue to serve as 1st XV Head Coach. The long serving SA u18 Forwards Coach has already spent seven years at the Pretoria co-ed powerhouse and is no stranger to multitasking. His portfolios included Deputy Headmaster and Head of Sport — fitting roles at a school that prides itself on maintaining high academic and sporting standards.

The new role, however, will require him to narrow his focus. With rugby now his primary brief, Cobus will look to sharpen Klofies’ overall long-term development structures while maintaining their trademark intensity and discipline.

Not many people know that Cobus hails from Gekombineerde Skool Christiana, a small-town school in the North West Province. He speaks about his school days with genuine pride and affection. Despite its modest size, Christiana offered him the kind of tight-knit community and personal connection that shaped his outlook both as a player and later as a coach.

He recalls how his parents attended every one of his matches, something he still treasures deeply. His school coach, Mr Johan Bester, left a lasting mark — a respected educator who created a positive, motivating environment and helped shape Cobus’s belief that coaching is as much about building character as it is about tactics.

For Cobus, rugby has always been about more than what happens between the white lines. It’s a platform to build friendships, character, and lifelong networks — values that continue to guide his approach as he takes on his expanded role at Waterkloof.