2026 – A Year of Plenty of Coaching Changes

2026 has been a year of plenty when it comes to coaching changes in South African schoolboy rugby.

Here is our look at the most significant changes among the country’s leading schools:

1. Paarl Gim (WP) – Gim lost highly rated assistant Helmut Lehman to WP/Stormers rugby, but opted for continuity from within, promoting Ockie van Zyl into the role.

2. Paul Roos (WP) – No major change confirmed.

3. Stellenberg (WP) – No major change confirmed.

4. Garsfontein (BUL) – Sylvester Booysen expanded his role to include the 1st XV head coaching position, while successful old boy Johan du Plessis moved to Menlopark as backline assistant.

5. Grey College (FS) – Grey brought old boy Wessel du Plessis home from the Bulls as its new rugby leader, while Noordheuwel head coach Ian Joubert joined as a teacher and specialist 1st XV coach.

6. Affies (BUL) – The departure of twins Neill and Ruan Jacobs to the Bulls and Sharks respectively triggered a major rethink. After an unsuccessful search for an external replacement, Affies turned inward: former head coach Jaco Koch and former head of rugby Ryno van der Merwe returned to their previous roles, while rising coaching talent Hanco Deale was promoted to 1st XV assistant.

7. Paarl Boys’ High (WP) – Boishaai lost Director of Rugby Niel de Bruin to the Bulls before the season and head coach Sean Erasmus to Maties at its conclusion. Despite strong speculation around both replacements, the school has yet to make formal announcements.

8. Monument (LIO) – No major change confirmed.

9. Oakdale (SWD) – No major change confirmed.

10. Outeniqua (SWD) – No major change confirmed.

11. Waterkloof (BUL) – No major change confirmed.

12. Hilton (KZN) – Old boy head coach Brad McLeod-Henderson has moved on, with Hilton preparing to welcome Mike Horak. The Grey College old boy was one of the few bright spots in the Sharks’ professional rugby structure.

13. Maritzburg College (KZN) – Hendre Maritz expanded his role to include the 1st XV after Nico Breedt left to take charge at Boland Landbou. SA U18 coach Flash Malinga subsequently resigned and is heading to St Stithians.

14. Northwood (KZN) – No major change confirmed.

15. Durban High School (KZN) – No major change confirmed.

16. Westville (KZN) – Zander Erasmus resigned after the season and is joining Affies, where he might be with their U15A side and perform S&C work as well. There is still no formal process to replace Zander but Westville has put out an advert for a forwards coach, which may point to an internal head coach restructure/appointment.

17. Rondebosch (WP) – No major change confirmed.

18. Drostdy (BOL) – Drostdy strengthened its coaching operation with the arrival of talented Worcester Gim head coach Jeff Fransman, while Henley du Plessis also joined as the school’s new Director of Rugby.

19. Michaelhouse (KZN) – One of the biggest moves of the year saw James Fleming leave his alma mater after making a significant impact on its rugby structure. He is taking up the Director of Rugby position at St Andrew’s. His former Michaelhouse head coaching position went to ex-KES coach Marco Engelbrecht ahead of 2026.

20. Helpmekaar (LIO) – Tjaart van der Walt expanded his role to Director of Rugby, effectively replacing Eugene Marais, who extended his stay in the headmaster’s office.

21. Kearsney (KZN) – No major change confirmed.

22. Jeppe (LIO) – No major change confirmed.

23. Noordheuwel (LIO) – Rugby head Botter Lourens was again forced into the head coaching role following Ian Joubert’s move to Grey College. Nories has now advertised for a permanent replacement.

24. Wynberg (WP) – Director of Rugby Nic Groom called time on his tenure to move into the private sector, leaving one of schoolboy rugby’s prominent leadership positions vacant.

25. Grey High (EP) – No major change confirmed.

26. Durbanville (WP) – Tygerberg old boy Johan van Deventer stepped into the head coaching role vacated by Ivan Jooste. Durbies also added rising Witteberg coach Christo van der Nest, while the head of rugby position held by Johan du Toit has been advertised.

27. Boland Landbou (BOL) – BL welcomed Nico Breedt to the farm as the key component of a major rugby restructure following 2025, when Christof Lotter and Schoeman du Preez occupied the leading coaching roles. Breedt’s arrival marks a significant new chapter for the Boland powerhouse.

28. SACS (WP) – Kofi Appiah replaced old boy Nick Mauer ahead of 2026, although Nick remained within the structure as an assistant coach.

29. Zwartkop (BUL) – No major change confirmed.

30. Diamantveld (GRQ) – No major change confirmed.

31. Graeme College (EP) – No major change confirmed.

32. Menlopark (BUL) – Menlo pulled off a major coaching coup by acquiring multiple Noordvaal Cup winner Johan du Plessis.

33. Rustenburg (LEO) – No major change confirmed.

34. Nico Malan (EP) – No major change confirmed.

35. KES (LIO) – Jabz Zulu took over the 1st XV after old boy Marco Engelbrecht departed for Michaelhouse.

36. Nelspruit (PUM) – After a period of instability, the Rhinos secured MJ Mentz from the Pumas’ professional structures. He took immediate control as both head coach and Director of Rugby.

37. Queen’s College (BOR) – No major change confirmed.

38. Kingswood (EP) – Following the departure of highly rated James Winstanley to the Bulls in 2025, Kingswood appointed Thabo Sisusa as the Private’s new dual-role rugby coach.

39. Parel Vallei (LIM) – No major change confirmed.

40. Dale College (BOR) – No major change confirmed.

41. EG Jansen (VAL) – No major change confirmed.

42. Bishops (WP) – Sam Mofokeng completed his first full season as head coach after taking over from Wes Chetty late in 2025. The headline move, however, was the appointment of old boy Robbie Fleck as Director of Rugby.

43. Pretoria Boys High (BUL) – Living school legend Paul Anthony has moved into a different coaching and recruitment capacity following the appointment of old boy Gareth Gilbert as Director of Rugby and head coach.

44. HTS Middelburg (PUM) – No major change confirmed.

45. Charlie Hofmeyr (BOL) – No major change confirmed.

46. Marlow (EP) – Gerrit Myburgh replaced stalwart Derik Olivier as head coach for 2026.

47. Kempton Park (VAL) – No major change confirmed.

48. Jim Fouché (FS) – No major change confirmed.

49. Transvalia (VAL) – No major change confirmed.

50. Montana (BUL) – No major change confirmed.

51. St John’s (LIO) – No major change confirmed.

52. Sentraal (FS) – No major change confirmed.

53. Pearson (EP) – No major change confirmed.

54. Glenwood (KZN) – No major change confirmed.

55. Pietersburg (LIM) – No major change confirmed.

56. Welkom Gim (GRF) – No major change confirmed.

57. Selborne (BOR) – Roy Godfrey and Adam Robertson took over from experienced coach Allan Miles, who remains within the structure while focusing more heavily on his academic career. In another significant change, old boy and Director of Rugby Derek Page vacated the position as the school wrestled with how best to revive its struggling rugby programme.

58. Hudson Park (BOR) – Hudson eventually settled on Ntando Kebe as its new head coach after Onke Dubase‘s departure. The school had also lost SA U18 head coach Lwazi Zangqa, who joined St Alban’s.

59. Framesby (EP) – No major change confirmed.

60. Middelburg (PUM) – Middies welcomed Christiaan Gouws as their new rugby leader and then added former Springbok centre Lionel Mapoe as an assistant coach in a surprise move.

61. Swartland (BOL) – No major change confirmed.

62. Heidelberg Volkskool (VAL) – No major change confirmed.

63. Oos-Moot (BUL) – No major change confirmed.

64. St Andrew’s (EP) – St Andrew’s revived the Director of Rugby position and landed a heavyweight in James Fleming, whose Michaelhouse experience and professional rugby knowledge add considerable weight to the programme.

65. Daniel Pienaar (EP) – Paul Ludeke is in the transition of taking over from Dawie Human. Both coaches were in the mix in 2026 as DP claimed the Tinara Cup of Kariega.

66. Hugenote (BOL) – No major change confirmed.

67. Brandwag (EP) – William Travill took over from Henre Erasmus as head coach for 2026.

68. Wesvalia (LEO) – No major change confirmed.

69. St Charles (KZN) – Craig Dwyer expanded his head coaching role to include that of the Private’s Rugby Specialist, replacing Mzi Nyathi, who joined St David’s.

70. Upington (GRI) – No major change confirmed.

71. Parktown (LIO) – No major change confirmed.

72. Klerksdorp (LEO) – No major change confirmed.

73. Bethlehem Voortrekker (GRF) – No major change confirmed.

74. Witteberg (GRF) – Witteberg lost standout young old boy coach Christo van der Nest, who moved to Durbanville. Robert Bosch stepped up to take charge.

75. Fichardtpark (FS) – No major change confirmed.

76. St Stithians (LIO) – Saints are set to welcome SA U18 A coach Flash Malinga, who was not able to secure a 1st XV opportunity at Maritzburg College after joining from Heronbridge.

77. Ben Vorster (LIM) – No major change confirmed.

78. Marais Viljoen (LIO) – No major change confirmed.

79. Milnerton (WP) – No major change confirmed.

80. Muir (EP) – No major change confirmed.