SA Rugby backs Springbok coaches’ Bulls role, launches national coaching forum

SA Rugby has moved swiftly to calm the storm around the Springbok coaching staff’s involvement with the Bulls by announcing plans to establish a national coaching forum aimed at formalising collaboration across the game.

The announcement, made by SA Rugby president Mark Alexander on Wednesday, follows criticism and debate sparked by the decision for the Springbok “brains trust” to answer an SOS from the struggling Bulls ahead of their United Rugby Championship derby against the Stormers in Cape Town on Saturday.

That intervention raised questions about competitive balance and whether national coaches should be helping individual franchises.

Alexander said the proposed forum would provide a transparent and structured platform for engagement between national team coaches, and franchise and provincial union coaches.

Currently, coaching staffs liaise over the schedules of Players of National Interest, for whom SA Rugby already makes a salary contribution.

“This forum will deepen and expand those relationships in a formal way,” Alexander said. 

He confirmed that SA Rugby fully supports the Springbok coaching staff in assisting the Bulls and any other teams that request guidance, stressing that the role of the national coaches is to act as a sounding board and to exchange ideas, not to take over or dictate tactics.

“The Springbok coaching staff and our member unions must work together, sharing ideas and expertise to strengthen the playing of the game across all levels. This process is well established in many progressive rugby nations, where collective delivery ensures both excellence and sustainability.”

He emphasised that the assistance offered to the Bulls was part of an established practice, noting that several unions had previously asked for similar support to address coaching gaps, and that this initiative is not intended to impose a “Springbok way” of playing on all teams.

“Collaboration is about support and shared learning, not uniformity. It’s about elevating standards while respecting the autonomy, identity and game plans of each union.” 

SA Rugby is targeting the new year to formally launch the national coaching forum, which will bring national and provincial coaches together to exchange best practices, align broader strategies and reinforce the values and ethos of South African rugby.