Heyneke Meyer as the Head of the Springboks

: Sunday, 29 January 2012 14:09

Heyneke Meyer has been officially appointed as Selector of the South-African National Rugby team.

He thus succeeds to Peter De Villiers whose mandate ended with the failure in the 2011 World quarter finals, after the «Boks», title-holders, were knocked out after losing to Australia (9-11). At 44 years old, the very experienced Heyneke Meyer’s mission will be to bring the Springboks back to No. 1 in the world. "I want to be the coach of a whole nation, not only of a province", he declared after his appointment. (...) "I want to unify our country through my team, but I can’t do it alone. I will need each South-African citizen to make it the best team in the world ", he added.

Changing course:

"The Springboks are the Union’s absolute priority. Heyneke’s business card has no match in South Africa", explained SARU’s President Oregan Hoskins, who thanked in passing Peter De Villiers but said he was opting for "a new approach and new ideas for the most difficult position in South-African sport."

Heyneke Meyer, the Bulls’ former coach who is also the most accomplished in the history of South-African rugby, has been appointed by SARU for the next 4 years. His mandate will start with three test-matches in June against England before the opening of the Four Nations.

1st match in real conditions, on 18 August in Cape Town against Argentina

G.Fontana

Translation : Nelly Orvain.