Swanepoel leave Grey College after 12 years as coach
After Jaco Swanepoel coached Grey College’s first team for twelve years he decided to move on. He was appointed to coach the University of the Free State’s first team, the Shimlas, from next year. He grabbed the job in front of nine other coaches who applied for the job.
“I accepted it as a full time job and won’t be coaching at Grey anymore,” said Swanepoel about his move. He was involved an amazing thirty years at Grey College in Bloemfontein as a pupil and teacher. “It is definitely difficult to leave Grey behind. I have walked a long way with the school,” said Swanepoel.
Shimlas has been coached by former Griqua-centre, Waksie Prinsloo and Dougie Heymans this year. Prinsloo will still coach the varsity’s sevens team after coaching them to the title of the Melrose-sevens.
It is not difficult to see why Shimlas’ management decided on Swanepoel. He coached more than 50 provincial players in his twelve years at Grey College of which seven became Springboks. The seven Springboks are Gerrie Britz, Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis, Frans Steyn, Ruan Pienaar, Wian du Preez and CJ van der Linde. Of which only Britz and Du Preez wasn’t part of th3e victorious Spirngboks which won the William Webb Ellis trophy at the World Cup in France earlier this year.
Grey College was seldom on the loosing side with Swanepoel as coach. Only a few school coaches can compare with him on school rugby level. He can play a huge role in the academy which was started by the University of the Free State and the Free State Rugby Union. Swanepoel also coached the Free State’s Cravenweek team with success.
“There are a few job opportunities as a professional coach and I would say that I am now a professional coach. I am very excited about this opportunity,” said Swanepoel. He also played one match for the Shimlas before getting injured after Piet Bester, former Free State and Griqua prop, fell on him. He was a promising young wing before he decided to hang up his boots. He represented the South African school’s team in 1986. He also played for the University of the Free State’s under 20’s and Irawas.
