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Lions lose coaching brain to Junior Springboks

NEWS: The Lions will soon be on the hunt for a new assistant coach after confirming the departure of Barend Pieterse.

The former Cheetahs lock will join the Junior Springboks at the end of January 2026.

Pieterse will join the South Africa Under-20s in a consultancy role, filling the vacancy left by current Bulls coach Johan Ackermann.

The appointment means the United Rugby Championship fixture between the Lions and Stormers will be the 46-year-old’s final match at the Johannesburg-based franchise.

Pieterse joined the Lions in 2023 and has been an instrumental figure within the management team.

“Barend has made a huge contribution to us,” Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen said.

“He is an excellent coach and a great human being.

“He sacrificed quite a bit in terms of being away from his family during his time with us.

“The Junior Springboks are gaining a great coach, and I’ve got no doubt that he can one day join the Springbok system.”

Pieterse will work alongside Junior Boks attack coach Melusi Mthethwa and forwards coach Lumumba Currie.

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