Affies coach off to the Sharks

The Sharks, who were led for many years by an old Affie in CEO Eduard Coetzee, have secured a top up-and-coming coach from the same prestigious school.

Affies look set to wave goodbye to enthusiastic young head coach Ruan Jacobs, who will form part of The Sharks junior structures.

Although a move into professional rugby has long been on the cards, the timing has caught the Affies community somewhat off guard. Concerns have now shifted toward the absence of a clear succession plan, particularly given that the programme already lost a key figure in Ruan’s twin brother, Neill, to the Bulls before the start of the season, and he was not replaced. Some are even referencing Pine Pienaar, who now works for Paul Roos, as another loss as he was replaced by a non-rugby orientated Commercial Manager at the Pretoria school.

If all goes according to plan, Ruan will still be able to complete the current season at his alma mater.

The next step for Affies will be to convene a panel to map out the way forward, as well as to identify the profile of the next head coach. An internal promotion is one option under consideration, although Affies are also understood to be open to bringing in an external professional coach.

For now, the programme remains well-resourced in terms of experience. Former head coach Jaco Koch continues to play a key role and has recently become Affies’ third-most-capped first-team stafff member in the school’s history (over 150 caps), behind legends Sakkie van der Walt (371) and Dr Kriel (276). Also still available is the coaching brain trust of Ryno van der Merwe, along with several other promising contributors already within the setup.

One thing is certain: Affies have a red-hot 1st XV in the making for 2027. The incoming head coach will need to bring his A-game to ensure the group’s full potential is maximised. At the same time, it could prove to be a highly rewarding first season in charge, offering an opportunity to lay a strong foundation and build significant reputation in the process.

What about Michael Horak?

Ruan is expected to work alongside Coenraad de Villiers, effectively replacing Michael Horak in the Sharks junior structures.

The move also adds further intrigue to a rumour that has been quietly circulating for months, particularly since it became known that Brad MacLeod-Henderson will be parting ways with Hilton at the end of their rugby season.