Former Bok World Cup winner gets the axe

NEWS: Leopards’ coach Matt Proudfoot has been relieved of his duties following a poor run in the SA Cup.

The former Springbok and England assistant coach has been replaced as the head coach of the Leopards for the remainder of the competition.

The change comes with just two rounds left in the competition, which is serving as a qualifier for the 2025 Currie Cup.

The Leopards have lost six of their seven matches in the SA Cup, conceded a staggering 425 points, with a points difference of -353.

Throughout these games, they’ve only managed to score eight tries while conceding 65.

They recorded their sole victory when they beat the bottom-of-the-log Border Bulldogs 28-25 in Mdantsane in March.

Last weekend, they lost 0-80 to the Boland Cavaliers, a result that most likely was the last straw that broke the camel’s back.

Proudfoot, a former Scotland international, who also represented the Leopards early in his playing career, was brought back to Potchefstroom to coach the Leopards two seasons ago.

He formed part of Rassie Erasmus’ 2019 World Cup management team and sports an impressive rugby CV.

He had stints with Maties, Namibia, and England while he also coached the Stormers and won the Currie Cup with Western Province.

According to Netwerk24, Leopards Rugby president Mervyn Taylor confirmed the decision to remove Proudfoot as the head coach but added he remained employed by the union.

“He has been relieved of his duties as head coach for the final two matches of the SA Cup series. After the series, we will reflect and decide how things will work in the future,” said Taylor.

“He wasn’t fired, he was relieved of his duties as head coach of the Leopards. He’s here, he’s still in his office, and I speak to him regularly, but he’s not involved in coaching at all.”

Assistant coach Riaan van Straten will take charge in their last two outings against the Falcons and SWD Eagles.