Lions name three former Boks in new-look coaching team

Three former Springbok players have joined the Lions coaching team ahead of the United Rugby Championship, which starts on 24 September.

Head coach Ivan “Cash” Rooyen will in future be supported by Albert Van den Berg (forwards and lineouts coach), Ricardo Loubscher (backline, attack and skills coach) and Jaque Fourie (defence coach).

Van den Berg played 51 Tests for the Springboks and previously coached at Griquas and the Sharks in South Africa and also at Toyota Verblitz and Canon Eagles in Japan.

Loubscher, who was a Springbok assistant coach alongside Heyneke Meyer, has been involved with the Sharks previously as well as with Stade Francais.

Fourie, a former Lions player before moving to Western Province, was a World Cup winner in 2007 under Jake White, earning 72 Test caps. He went to three World Cups and is regarded one of the best centres to come out of South Africa.

The 38-year-old is still fairly new to coaching, having looked after the defence of the Western Force in 2018, while he also took up a post alongside former Bok assistant Gary Gold, the current head coach of the USA, for the defensive duties at the World Cup in 2019.

Julian Redelinghuys, also a former Bok, who was forced to give up the game because of a neck injury, will continue in his role as scrum coach.

‘Fresh ideas’

Lions Rugby Company CEO Rudolf Straeuli called the appointments of the three former Boks “exciting times” for the Lions.

“As we embark on our debut season in Europe, we look forward to exposing our players and coaching staff to what will surely be a competitive environment,” said Straeuli on Wednesday.

“We are particularly excited to welcome fresh ideas, experience and value our new coaches will bring to our setup as we begin preparations before jetting off in a few weeks. We wish the players and management all the best as they begin their preparations.”