Powell gets Blitzbokke job
Former captain Neil Powell, has been appointed coach of the Springbok Sevens team in succession to Paul Treu, SARU announced on Saturday.
Powell will take charge of the team for the first time at the Gold Coast Sevens in Australia next weekend. He will be assisted by his former teammate, Vuyo Zangqa, who was appointed as assistant coach.
The appointments were confirmed at a meeting of the Executive Council in Johannesburg, which ratified the recommendation of the technical committee.
"Following his retirement as an active player in 2012, we took Neil into our structures with a view to developing him as a coach of the future," said Jurie Roux, CEO of SARU. "It has been a thorough process in his appointment and he will continue the successful partnership he has had with Vuyo in recent times.
"Neil was a vastly experienced player and is very familiar with the Sevens World Series. They make their debut in Australia next week and we're looking forward to their contribution to the growth of our Sevens programme," he added.
Treu, who has yet to decide on his own future, wished his successor well via twitter.
"Congrats to Neil Powell on his appointment as SA 7's Coach. I wish him good choices and success," he tweeted.
The team departs for Australia on Monday.
Powell and Zangqa were part of the Springbok Sevens squad that won the Sevens World Series in the 2008/09 season.
The 35-year-old Powell, who also represented the Sharks, Bulls, Cats and Cheetahs in Super Rugby and Griquas, Blue Bulls and Free State Cheetahs in the Currie Cup, played for South Africa in 32 tournaments on the Sevens World Series. He is also a Commonwealth Games bronze medallist (2010).
Zangqa, a former Border Bulldogs and Leopards representative, played in 19 tournaments of the world series.
The Council also confirmed the appointment of another former national player, Renfred Dazel, as the Springbok Women's Sevens coach. He replaces Denver Wannies.
The 32-year-old Dazel, who also represented Boland Kavaliers in the fifteen’s code, played in 32 tournaments in the Sevens World Series and were part of the Springbok Sevens squad that won the Sevens World Series in the 2008/09 season .
