Bulls' candidate gets Pumas job
NEWS: Bulls’ coaching candidate Jimmy Stonehouse has been named Pumas Currie Cup coach for the 2018 season.
Stonehouse, the current director of rugby at the Pumas, takes over the reins following coach Brent Janse van Rensburg and the Pumas “amicable agreement to part ways,”
rugby365com reported that Stonehouse was of the candidates to take up the coaching job at the Bulls following John Micthell’s exit.
Stonehouse has close links with the Bulls – from his days as a teacher at Hoërskool Waterkloof, the Bulls Cravenweek team and Pretoria Harlequins.
However, Stonehouse’s latest responsibility means that one of the Springbok legends Fourie du Preez or Victor Matfield is likely to land the job at the Bulls.
The other name on the ‘wanted’ list is Western Province coach John Dobson.
Pieter Burger, Pumas CEO, commented on Janse Van Rensburg’s departure.
“We regret to be losing the use of Brent’s services,” he said, adding: “He has made a big contribution towards the Pumas success and the improvements made thus far.
“He wishes to explore other opportunities regarding his future, which we respect,”
Janse van Rensburg, who successfully lead the Pumas to this year’s Challenge Cup trophy, did not reveal his future plans.
“I thank the Pumas for the opportunity provided to me,” he said.
“The team is in a good space currently and the time is fitting now for me to consider other opportunities and decide upon said in the near future.
“There are a lot of systems that have been put in place with the team, continuity in the group, which they should take into the Currie Cup.
“I certainly am excited and positive about the potential of this team, what they can achieve and also the potential of the union,”
The Pumas will take on the Leopards in a friendly match on Friday in preparation for their Currie Cup campaign.
Friday’s match provides an opportunity to Kwezi Mona, Neil Maritz, Ryan Nel and Nardus van der Walt to test their match fitness following their injuries.
The Mpumalanga side kicks off their 2018 Currie Cup on August 18 when they host Griquas.
Pumas: Devon Williams; Trompie Pretorius, Ryan Nell, Hennie Skorbinski, Neil Maritz; Christopher Smith, Reynier van Rooyen; Willie Engelbrecht, Nardus van der Walt, Brian Shabangu, Cameron Lindsay, Le Roux Roets, Louis Albertse, Marko Janse van Rensburg, Kwezi Mona.
Replacements: De-Jay Terblanche, Simon Westraadt, Frankie Herne, Andrew Beerwinkel, Marné Coetzee, Hugo Kloppers, Jaenadré Rudolph, Stefan Willemse, Abrie Griesel, Justin van Staden, Gerrit Smith, JP Lewis, Henko Marais, Morné Joubert.
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