Bok backroom staff growing

Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer took a giant step towards completing his management team this week.

The South African Rugby Union in Thursday announced that negotiations with five more members of the Bok team management had been concluded.

Meyer's assistant coaches were confirmed as Johann van Graan (forwards), Ricardo Loubscher (backs) and John McFarland (defence).

Basil Carzis has been appointed as conditioning coach and Ian Schwartz will be the team manager.

Van Graan, McFarland and Carzis will join the Boks for the three-Test series against England in June and then return to the Bulls until the end of the Super Rugby competition.

Meyer left Cape Town on Thursday a happy man after overseeing three very successful Bok planning camps over the past three weeks.

It was Meyer's first interaction with the country's leading players since his appointment at the end of January.

Two of the three camps were held in Pretoria, with players from the Cheetahs, Lions, Bulls and Sharks.

The final camp, with players from the Stormers, concluded in Cape Town on Thursday.

Meyer also involved members of the South African Under-20 squad.

A total of 104 players attended the three camps.

Each player had one-on-one discussions with the Springbok coach and was assessed by the medical team.