Former Blitzboks captain Philip Snyman has been appointed as the team’s head coach on a full time basis FILE - Former Blitzboks captain Philip Snyman has been appointed as the team’s head coach on a full time basis. Snyman served as the acting coach at the Paris Olympics, where they won the bronze medal. Photo: Henk Kruger/Independent Media
SA Rugby on Thursday appointed Philip Snyman to the head coach post of the Springboks Sevens team.
Snyman, a former Blitzboks captain, was serving in the role in an acting capacity over the last six months, and was in charge when the team won the bronze medal at the recently completed Paris Olympics.
Also under Snyman, the Blitzboks won the World Rugby Sevens Repechage tournament in Monaco to book their place in Paris via the back door.
Locked in! Philip Snyman has been appointed as the #Blitzboks' head coach until the next Olympic Games - more here: https://t.co/arYA01EhDU ⚡#PoweredByUnity pic.twitter.com/xpRkoPIZAW
— Springbok Sevens (@Blitzboks) September 12, 2024
Previous coach Sandile Ngcobo was removed as head coach after a poor showing in Los Angeles left the team facing a struggle to qualify for the Olympics.
“It is a massive honour to be appointed as full-time head coach, a position that demands the best of what the Blitzboks can be and a position I always aspired too when I became a coach,” Snyman said according to an SA Rugby statement.
“There is a lot of work to be done, despite our recent results. We are still way off being a top three team and we will be working hard to get back to that position.
“I can’t wait to get going and I would like to thank SA Rugby’s leadership for the trust they have placed in me. We have a solid core of players, and I will be looking at ways to strengthen our player base and depth to such an extent that we will be contending for titles and medals regularly.”
SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer praised Snyman’s work in turning the team around after a difficult start to the season.
“Their performances in Monaco and Paris showed that he can get the Blitzboks back to their former glories and we are pleased to have him on board.
“As a former captain, Philip brings deep institutional knowledge of the Springbok Sevens with him, having played in 62 world series events, two Rugby World Cup Sevens tournaments and a Commonwealth Games where the team won gold.”
IOL Sport