Boks reveal latest backroom appointment
NEWS: The Springboks announced the appointment of another backroom staff member ahead of a blockbuster 2026 season.
Former England, Scarlets, and Ospreys technical analyst Joe Lewis has been appointed to the Springbok management team in the role of performance analyst.
He will join the team before the international season, which kicks off against the Barbarians and features two new exciting competitions in the Nations Championship and Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Tour.
The Welshman, who holds a master’s degree in performance analysis from Cardiff Metropolitan University and a degree in sports management from the University of South Wales, served as England’s head analyst from 2017 to 2021, and senior analyst from 2022 until the conclusion of their recent Six Nations campaign.
He has also worked as Wales’ national age-grade video analyst and Taranaki Rugby Football head analyst.
“We are delighted to welcome Joe to the Springbok team,” said Bok head coach Rassie Erasmus.
“Given his vast experience in technical and performance analysis at international and club level, we believe he will add great value to the squad as we prepare for a busy and exciting season, and further ahead to the 2027 RWC.
“His roles have seen him gain invaluable experience at the highest level of the game – at the 2019 Rugby World Cup, in the Six Nations competition, and Nations Cup, among other big tournaments, and we have no doubt he’ll slot into our set-up seamlessly.”
The Springboks will kick off their 2026 campaign against the Barbarians in Gqeberha on Saturday, June 20, before beginning the inaugural Nations Championship competition against England in Johannesburg (July 4), Scotland in Pretoria (July 11), and Wales in Durban (July 18).
They meet Argentina in Buenos Aires (August 8), and the All Blacks in four Tests in the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Tour in August and September.
This will be followed by an away Test against the Wallabies in Australia on September 27.
The second leg of the Nations Championship kicks off in Europe at the end of the year, with matches against Italy (November 7), France (November 13), and Ireland (November 21), before the Finals Weekend in London (November 27-29).