Stormers name Fleck as coach for 2016 Super Rugby season

CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - South African Super Rugby side the Stormers have named Robbie Fleck as head coach for the 2016 Super Rugby season.





The 40-year-old, an assistant coach for the franchise since 2010, has been acting as coaching co-ordinator since the departure of Australian coach Eddie Jones to England last month.

"Western Province (WP) director of rugby Gert Smal has done a thorough investigation into all available and interested coaches for the position. Robbie Fleck is a Western Province man through-and-through," WP president Thelo Wakefield said in a statement on Saturday.

"He understands the environment having had extensive experience as an assistant coach at Super Rugby level and as a former WP, Stormers and Springbok player.

"In addition, he showed his mettle as a head coach this year, dominating the Currie Cup Under-21 competition. He deserves his opportunity and we are proud to be able to grow one of our own."

Smal said that the union would reassess Fleck’s position after the Super Rugby season.

"As a Province man it’s a massive honour and a privilege," Fleck said. "I’m really appreciative of the faith been shown in me and in conjunction with all my colleagues will continue to prepare the squad on the path chosen."

The former centre played 31 tests for South Africa between 1999 and 2002, and also had a spell in English rugby at Bath.





(Reporting by Nick Said; editing by Amlan Chakraborty)


Share

2 min read

Published

Source: Reuters



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world