WP snap up Varsity Cup coach Fleck
FNB UCT backline coach Robbie Fleck, who has coached at Varsity Cup level for the past two seasons, has been snapped up by Western Province for the 2009 Currie Cup.
Rob Wagner, Managing Director of WP Rugby (Pty) Ltd, confirmed on Friday that Fleck would take charge of the WP backs, whilst Matthew Proudfoot – another man who cut his teeth at Varsity Cup level – would be in charge of the forwards.
Former Springbok assistant coach Allister Coetzee – who took over from current Bok assistant Gary Gold as head coach of the WP team in 2008 – will remain head coach of the Western Province Currie Cup side.
“I’m very excited to be back in the Western Province set-up and working with the coaches and athletes again,” said Fleck.
“Province and the Blue and White Hoops have always been a part of me and I’m looking forward to making a positive contribution.”
Former Pukke coach Proudfoot has been with WP Rugby, at the team’s High Performance Centre, since the beginning of the year; giving him an ideal opportunity to get to know the players at both senior and junior level, as well as be involved in the coaching structures.
Fleck, meanwhile, played 56 matches for Western Province and 49 Super Rugby matches for the Stormers. He was vice-captain of the Springboks on several occasions and earned 31 Test caps playing in the Green and Gold between 1999 and 2002.
Since hanging up his boots, Fleck has been involved with coaching at UCT, assisting head coach John Dobson during 2008 and 2009 – at both Varsity Cup and WP Super League level.
Fleck is also a Tournament Host of the Cape Town Tens – a ten-a-side rugby tournament which took the social rugby scene by storm earlier this year.
Under Fleck and Dobson’s guidance, the Ikey Tigers played an exciting brand of rugby in the Varsity Cup, topping the log last year – before losing to the Maties in the first-ever final – and ending second on the standings this year.
Fleck, who ended his professional playing career with Bath in England, is regarded as one of the most promising backline coaches in South African rugby.
“Fleckie is a deep thinker about the game and has done incredibly good work at UCT. His interest lies in attacking play. He does a lot of research about backline play,” said John Dobson, who has forged an excellent working relationship with Fleck.
“The young guys still remember him as a Springbok centre and his experience as a player at the highest level is valuable. It’s a very good decision by WP to get him involved.”
Thirty-three-year-old Fleck also coached the South African Student team as assistant to Proudfoot, who, of course, last year coached Pukke to the National Club Championships title in Stellenbosch.
