Are we doing enough to stimulate and develop our young rugby coaches?

With so few teams playing at a really high-quality, competitive level in South Africa when and how do young, aspiring coaches get a chance to learn and grow – and show what they are made of?

Last week I spoke of the Easter schoolboy rugby festivals opening the door to future opportunity for some – mainly those boys from well-off rugby schools – but not for others, who might attend a school whose rugby programme is weak and opportunities are few, or non-existent.

Some of these talented boys will never be spotted and make it at a higher level, and the same goes for our young coaches in South Africa.

What systems are in place for young coaches to learn and grow?

We always hear about coaches requiring level one, two and three World Rugby coaching certificates, but what does that actually mean? It doesn’t guarantee a coach anything, and it certainly doesn’t ensure he or she will make it to the highest level.

So, if that’s not the answer, what is?

Is a high performance set-up, where young coaches join the unions for a specific time and learn and grow from those seniors there, a possible option? I think it could work, because if the young coaches don’t go to those bigger unions, where else are they going to learn?

Let’s be honest, there are not many opportunities for coaches in South Africa. You’ve got four URC positions, a few Currie Cup spots and then it’s the Varsity Cup. Sure, there are some junior positions at U-19 and U-21 level, and assistant positions, but how often do club coaches get a look-in?

Club and Currie Cup coaches

In South Africa it seems if you get into coaching at club level, that’s where you stay, and there’s no way out. It’s not right.

And even with all the noise and push for more black coaches to get a chance, how many have coached at the highest level in South Africa? Very few.

It’s pleasing to see Jerome Paarwater, Mziwakhe Nkosi and Etienne Fynn involved at Currie Cup level, as well as the likes of Joey Mongalo at the Bulls, but where are the other young black coaches?

Are we doing enough in this country to really develop and grow our coaches? How much learning is taking place, all-round, from seasoned men, who’ve been there?

It’s unfortunate that so many of this country’s best and most experienced coaches are no longer involved in our rugby – to mentor and grow and guide the younger generation.

Just like we lose so many players to Europe and Japan, so we have lost so many coaches, too. I think it’s time we had a coaching indaba in this country, where we can all get together and talk about pathways and opportunities to learn and grow. Because what’s happening right now for coaches is not good enough.