New SA Schools head coach Lwazi Zangqa will not vacate his Border Bulldogs assistant position and has instead worked out a schedule to accommodate both roles while also being part of the Border Craven Week’s technical team.
The tough schedule is something he says he anticipated at the start of the year.
All three teams will be involved in different competitions within the span of two months.
First up will be the Bulldogs kicking off their Currie Cup First Division this weekend, running through until July.
Then he will be off to the Craven Week in Middelburg in July, followed by SA Schools fixtures in August.
“We have already sorted out how things are going to be managed concerning the terms of my involvement,” Zangqa said.
“We anticipated it and planned because if we had not done so, it would have been sabotage.
“Everyone is aware of what is going to happen between now and the end of SA Schools.
“There’s not going to be a split in focus. I will still be able to attend all training sessions unless I am away.
“We are preparing with the Bulldogs now this week for the Leopards game on Saturday,” Zangqa said.
It will be the first time Zangqa has taken the head position of the SA Schools team, after previously being assistant and head coach of SA A Schools.
He will be assisted by Cobus van Dyk. The SA Schools calendar is expected to include inter-squad matches and a possible incoming tour by England, France, Ireland or Wales.
“Van Dyk was my head coach in 2022 when I arrived in the SA Schools set-up.
“We have worked together well but he then became a scrum consultant. I have extensive knowledge about him, he’s a very good coach,” he said.
Part of Zangqa’s job for the SA Schools will be to ensure seamless transition for both players progressing through the ranks to the Junior Springboks.
In the coming weeks, he will meet the head coach of SA junior rugby Kevin Foote, who will oversee the coaching framework and mentor his progress.
“We will meet with Foote to get insights and understand what his plan is so that we can further implement in the boys under-20 journey because players that make the SA Schools this year will probably find themselves in the U20s in two years,” he said.
At 34, Zangqa is one of the few Border rugby coaches to achieve World Rugby Level 3 Accreditation (15-man game).
Daily Dispatch
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