New SA Schools Coaches for 2020

Lance Sendin of Hoërskool Hugenote in Wellington returns to coach the SA Schools team in 2020 and Wessel du Plessis of Grey College in Bloemfontein is the new coach for the SA Schools A team.

These two teams, to be chosen after the Craven Week, will be in action in international competition in August 2020, as has been happening for some time now.

Sendin coached SA Schools in 2016 and 2017. In 2016 SA Schools beat Wales, France and England but in 2017 they lost to Wales, France and England. Last year, coached by Sean Erasmus, they beat Wales and England but lost to France.

Last year Du Plessis was the assistant coach to Phiwe Nomlomo for the SA Schools A team which lost to Argentina and France and drew with Wales.

Cobus van Dyk of Hoërskool Waterkloof is the assistant coach of the SA Schools team, while Katleho Lynch of St John's College in Johannesburg is the assistant coach of the SA Schools A team.

The SA Schools and SA Schools A teams will play three rounds of matches in the Under-18 International Series on 7, 11 and 15 August 2020. England, Argentina and France have already confirmed their participation in the series and the fixtures will be finalised in due course.

SA Rugby CEO Jurie Roux said: “The SA Schools and SA Schools A teams play a vital role in our development structures, as it is often the first taste of international rugby our players are exposed to, and it is pleasing to be able to appoint coaches of Lance and Wessel’s calibre.

“They are both familiar with the competition having served in the coaching structures before and they know what standards are required to be successful, so we are expecting another top-class event this season.”

SA Schools Management Team

Head Coach: Lance Sendin

Assistant Coach: Cobus van Dyk

Team manager: Dean Moodley

Strength and conditioning coach: Sisonke Makapela

Team Doctor: Dr Janesh Ghanda

Physiotherapist: Wernich Smit

SA Schools A Management Team

Head Coach: Wessel du Plessis

Assistant Coach: Katleho Lynch

Team manager: Jimmy Jimlongo

Strength and conditioning coach: Yaw Fosu-Amoah

Team Doctor: Dr Janesh Ghanda

Physiotherapist: Ken Kabongo

From SA Rugby Communications