Bulls double down on schoolboy rugby coaching talent & sign Neill Jacobs from Affies

The Bulls have strengthened their commitment to sourcing elite coaching talent from the schoolboy rugby ranks with the appointment of Neill Jacobs, Affies’ Director of Rugby and U16A coach, as their new Head of High Performance.

The Pretoria union has shown clear appreciation for the high calibre of coaching within South African schools and the immense value these coaches add to their junior pathways. Their track record supports the strategy:

Wessel du Plessis, the former Grey College mastermind, has been instrumental since joining the Loftus setup five years ago.

James Winstanley, recruited from Kingswood and serving as SA Schools coach at the time, has also elevated standards with his sharp rugby IQ.

Now Neill becomes the latest high-profile schoolboy mentor to bolster the Bulls’ structures. In his new role, he will oversee high-performance planning, recruitment and alignment between player pipelines and the Bulls’ succession model.

The union’s internal reshuffle also sees:

Wessel promoted to SA Cup forwards coach and Currie Cup defence coach.

James stepping into the role of U20 Head Coach.

A blow for Affies — but coaching depth remains

Neill’s departure is undeniably a significant loss for Affies, but the Pretoria powerhouse remains well-resourced and committed to continuity.

Rising coaching talent Hanco Deale, remembered as the Witbul’s deadeye goalkicking fullback in 2012, will take charge of the u16A side. The vacancy he leaves at u15A may result in another internal promotion.

Ruan Jacobs, Neill’s twin and the school’s 1st XV head coach, will assume additional administrative responsibilities.

The only lingering concern for the Affies faithful? With the Bulls increasingly raiding the schoolboy coaching scene, Ruan may soon be on their radar as well.

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