Full circle for Proudfoot and Fleck
They began 2008 as coaching enemies, before joining forces for the SA Universities team later that season. Now, however, Matt Proudfoot and Robbie Fleck find themselves working together on a full-time basis for the Stormers and Western Province in a Varsity Cup success story of a different sort.
Proudfoot, the former Scotland international, and former Springbok centre Fleck locked horns on two occasions in the inaugural Varsity Cup – Proudfoot as head coach of the fearsome NWU-Pukke and the latter as John Dobson’s backline coach for the adventurous Ikey Tigers.
Of course, both Proudfoot and Fleck are now both lost to the Varsity Cup – and their absence will be keenly felt in the tournament – but they will never forget the lessons that were learnt and fun that was had in South Africa’s top student rugby tournament.
“It’s a fantastic platform – not just for coaches, but also for players,” enthused Fleck, the Stormers’ new backline coach, in conversation with varsitycup.co.za.
“A lot of players have already come through – at Currie Cup level, international Sevens and full Test rugby – the Varsity Cup, but it’s nice to see the coaches doing so well. Obviously Matt and I are now involved with the Stormers, but Chean (Roux) has since coached the SA Universities team and Dobbo (John Dobson) landed a coaching job in Italy
“It’s clear that the Varsity Cup is the place to be – whether you’re an aspiring player or coach.”
Proudfoot, who now serves as the Stormers’ forwards coach, added: “To me, the Varsity Cup is not just about making these young guys better players… it’s about making them better people too.
“The next generation of rugby stars and business people are developed in the Varsity Cup and I think the various sponsors involved could not get a better return if they tried – they’re clearly investing in the right place.
“The age group of the Varsity Cup is a key time in a young adult’s life, be it as an aspiring sports person or academic, and this tournament has already proven that it’s the perfect breeding ground for talented rugby players wanting to take the next step.”
Whilst no longer involved in the day-to-day coaching of the Varsity Cup, the two Stormers assistant coaches will still have a lot to do with the tournament as they survey the next generation of Currie Cup and Super 14 players in the Western Cape – as the region’s best young talent strut their stuff in the colours of Stellenbosch and UCT in 2010.
“The key for me,” said Proudfoot to varsitycup.co.za, “is that players performing in the Varsity Cup are doing so on a weekly basis against very good opposition.
“There are no weak teams in the Varsity Cup, so if a Maties or Ikeys player performs – week-in and week-out – we will have to look at him.”
Fleck added: “Aside from having to put up with irate phone calls from John Dobson, if we take any of his players, it’s with a heavy heart that I won’t be part of the 2010 Varsity Cup!
“It was always a three-year plan for Dobbo and I (at UCT), but I made some very good friends at UCT – it was a major part of my life and (playing and coaching) career – and it’s natural that I therefore would want only the best for those guys.”
Proudfoot added: “What made it even more special for me was coaching a university I once played for – just like Fleckie did… for that reason the Varsity Cup will always be a sentimental tournament for me.”
As a coaching duo, one gets the feeling that Fleck and Proudfoot could also one day look back at the Currie Cup and Super 14 – as they are already doing with the Varsity Cup – as part of their journey to landing even bigger coaching jobs.
“I really enjoyed coaching the SA Universities team with Fleckie in 2008 and I got to know him really well after first coaching against him,” said Proudfoot when asked about his coaching association with Fleck.
“Look, we all know he’s a bit of a nutter – it comes with being a maverick! – but it’s been great working with him and we’re both very thankful for the opportunities that have come our way since starting out in the 2008 Varsity Cup.”
