Mthethwa added to Junior Bok’s new coaching staff

Melusi Mthethwa © Gallo Images

SA Rugby has announced the addition of Melusi Mthethwa to the Junior Springbok coaching staff, with the former Shimlas assistant coach responsible for the backline and attacking responsibilities of the SA Under-20 team.

Mthethwa joins a new coaching set-up as assistant coach, with Junior Bok head coach Kevin Foote and incumbent assistant coach Lumumba Currie, who has held the duties of forwards and scrum coach for the past two seasons.

The 39-year-old Mthethwa started in his new role on Friday and will work in Stellenbosch with the rest of the core of the Junior Bok coaching and management staff.

SA Rugby General Manager High-Performance Dave Wessels welcomed Mthethwa to his role and said he looked forward to working with Junior Bok’s new-look management staff as they prepare for what promises to be a busy international season next year.

Mthethwa began his coaching journey at North-West University’s Puk Rugby Institute before moving to the Leopards, from where he joined Free State as head coach of their U19 and U21 sides. That four-year spell paved the way for his journey with the senior Toyota Cheetahs side, a role as head coach of CUT’s FNB Varsity Cup side, attack coach of the Suzuki Griquas team in the Carling Currie Cup and assistant coach of the Shimlas.

“Melusi was an integral part of the Shimlas team this year as they played an attacking brand of rugby on their way to winning the FNB Varsity Cup,” said Wessels.

“Through his association with many provincial junior and senior teams, he has proven to be a very talented and promising young coach. He has good technical knowledge and a lot of energy, and I know he will make a great contribution to our Junior Boks.”

SA Rugby recently completed an in-depth review of the Junior Springboks’ 2024 season, which saw the team finish seventh at the World Rugby Under-20 Championship and second in the inaugural U20 Rugby Championship hosted by SANZAAR in Australia. This has resulted in a revision of Junior Bok’s coaching structure.

According to Wessels, the Junior Springboks will also engage specialist advisors in key identified areas.

“We had a robust Junior Bok review and although we were disappointed with the performance, we identified areas where we could strengthen the coaching structures and management areas,” he said.

“The main aim of our Junior Bok program is to create future Springboks, so we have an intense focus on individual skills, athletic and technical development.

“In addition to members of SA Rugby’s Mobi-Unit, such as Duane Vermeulen, we have also identified several other specialist advisors to assist us with player development.”

Mthethwa said he was excited and felt privileged to be part of the Junior Boks coaching structure.

“It is truly a tremendous honor to serve your country and I look forward to this very exciting challenge,” he said.

“When you look at the recent U18 International Series, as well as the SA Rugby U19 and U21 competitions, you realize that we have such an incredible pool of exciting and talented young rugby players coming through the ranks from a proven and world-class path.

“I look forward to making a contribution that will enable us as a team to prepare these young men to compete successfully at international level, and lay the foundation for them to develop into future Springboks.”

One of the key outcomes of SA Rugby’s 2024 Junior Bok review and optimization process is the establishment of a new SA Rugby U19 Academy squad, which will come into action around mid-November, during which time the group of over 40 promising U19 players will be based in the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport (SAS).

This influx will form the core of the next generation of Junior Springboks, who will compete in next year’s World U20 event, the U20 Rugby Championship and most likely undertake a short tour to Europe to prepare the players for the two major international events.