SA Rugby has announced that Dave Wessels, the head coach of the Melbourne Rebels and the erstwhile Western Force, has been promoted to general manager of high performance rugby.
The 41-year-old, who will start in his new position right away, is currently the head of rugby for the Stormers and Western Province.
A portion of the “rugby department’s repurposing”
With Rassie Erasmus returning to lead the Springboks and his position as director of rugby being phased out, Wessels’ appointment represents the continuation of what SA Rugby refers to as “the repurposing of the rugby department.”
The general manager of rugby role at SA Rugby, Charles Wessels (who is unrelated to Dave Wessels), has likewise been deactivated and is now solely focused on Springbok affairs.
Chief executive of SA Rugby Rian Oberholzer stated, “We are reviewing all rugby activities and ensuring the structure is best purposed to meet the needs of our national teams.”
“Further adjustments are being considered as we start the process of giving all of our national teams better support.”
Dave Wessels’ hiring accomplishes two goals: it gives Rassie and Charles Wessels more time to concentrate on the national team and establishes a resource that can give our other national teams more guidance and support.
“In particular, it will enable us to place more focus on our sevens, women’s, and junior national teams’ strategic needs and future plans, whose needs will now receive exclusive attention.”
Great Springboks Ireland’s reputation as the greatest country in the world prompts Bryan Habana to respond simply.
After a fruitful career in website building and a master’s degree in information technology from the University of Cape Town (UCT), Dave Wessels transitioned into coaching in 2008.
Before taking over as head coach of the Western Force and then Melbourne Rebels, he worked as a consultant with Western Province and the Stormers at first. He also had stints as an assistant coach with UCT and the Brumbies in Australia.
He became the youngest ever after his tenure at the Force.
Spent a decade in Australia
This, after he spent a decade in Australia and in 2022 he was appointed to the head of rugby position at Western Province and Stormers.
“Rassie gave me my first real job in rugby back in 2008 and I know what a good environment he runs,” said Wessels. “It’s a privilege to be part of a world-leading organisation such as SA Rugby.
“The needs of high-performance environments are always changing, and my job will be to offer support and create systems that will ensure sustained success for South Africa’s teams into the future.
“This is a big challenge, and I hope that the experiences I’ve had in various roles both here and overseas for the past decade and a half will be beneficial.
“I’m also very grateful to the DHL Stormers. It’s been wonderful to be a part of the team over the last few years and I wish the guys all the best.”
