CONFIRMED: Bok World Cup winner changes his spots ... again

CONTRACT NEWS: The coaching journey of former World Cup-winning Springbok assistant coach Matthew Craig Proudfoot has come full circle.

Contrary to the vulgarized saying that a leopard never changes its spots, Proudfoot has a new gig.

Eugene Fourie, Chief Executive Officer of the Leopards Rugby Union, confirmed that the 52-year-old Proudfoot has been appointed as head coach of the Leopards till December with an option to renew for another two years.

His assistant is Freddy Ngoza.

"We are very excited about his arrival," Fourie told @rugby365com, when asked about the appointment.

"Matt started his term yesterday [Monday]," the CEO added.

"His international experience will greatly benefit the Leopards - not just the senior team, but the entire province.

"Matt is a driven person and we are convinced he will put in place the correct structure to ensure the Leopards are a success on the playing field."

Proudfoot's arrival in Potchefstroom comes after he started his coaching journey as an assistant at the North-West University almost two decades ago.

He then took up a position with Western Province and the Stormers (as forwards coach), and moved to the Steelers in Japan, before rejoining then Springbok coach Allister Coetzee at the national team in 2016.

He stayed on when Rassie Erasmus took over in 2018 and assisted the Boks as a forwards coach during their World Cup-winning campaign in Japan in 2019.

In 2020 he joined Eddie Jones as England's forwards coach, but moved on when Jones was given his marching orders in 2022.

Proudfoot then had a stint with Stellenbosch University as a 'consultant head coach' of the Maties, before joining Coetzee once more - this time as forwards coach of the Namibian team at the World Cup in France.

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