SA Rugby’s findings in its their most recent transformation audit highlighted shortcomings, perhaps none more than the complete absence of black head coaches at franchise level.
An even bleaker picture reveals itself in their pipeline, with only five black coaches out of 26 spread across the Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers.
SA Rugby passed the buck by pointing out that franchises are now privately owned and so it has that they have no leverage over their staff composition.
Joey Mongalo (Sharks), Ricardo Loubscher (Lions), Rito Hlungwani, Labeeb Levy (both Stormers), Kennedy Tsimba and Phiwe Nomlomo (both Bulls) are the black coaches assigned to roles in this season’s United Rugby Championship.
On repeat
In 29 seasons since the inception of Super Rugby and its successor the United Rugby Championship (URC), Chester Williams (Cats, 2004-05), Allister Coetzee (Stormers, 2010-15) and Deon Davids (Kings, 2016-17) remain the only black head coaches. RWC hero Williams eventually furthered his coaching journey in Tunisia, Uganda and Romania.
Coetzee, who boasts the second-highest win percentage for the Stormers behind John Dobson, took the Springboks job but vacated the position after just two seasons. He took his skills to Japan, Italy and then Namibia.
Davids became a Springbok assistant coach.
The country’s dark past partly explains the shortfall after the game turned professional, but 29 seasons on there is perhaps more than meets the eye.
STP falls short
A decade ago when Coetzee was the only black head coach, there were only two black assistant coaches across the five franchises (including the Cheetahs). At the end of that season SA Rugby launched its Strategic Transformation Plan and while there has been some positive movement in playing numbers at national level, the needle hasn’t shifted among the coaches.
“You have to ask yourself if there are black coaches in the pipeline earmarked to become head coaches,” asked a black coach who spoke on condition of anonymity. “If not, the second question would be is there a pathway for them to become head coaches. The third question would be if there is the will to do so.
“That perhaps ties in with the question whether white coaches past and present were better qualified for those positions?”
Franchises, such as the national federation, have increased black participation across the rugby ecosystem, but those numbers can paint a distorted picture.
Thinning numbers
Black participation thins higher up the food chain. The franchises now look to appoint black Currie Cup head coaches.
Last year Mongalo headed the Sharks’ campaign, Mziwakhe Nkosi took the reins of the Lions and Edgar Marutlulle set off as Bulls coach. The latter however was demoted after just four matches.
This year Nomlomo is tipped for the Bulls job, Nkosi looks set to retain the reins at the Lions, while retired Bok wing JP Pietersen is likely to become the Sharks’ Currie Cup coach.
“I’d hate for it to become a situation where the Currie Cup is for black coaches and the URC exclusive for whites,” said the coach.
“Black coaches will get judged to a higher standard. You have to show beyond any doubt that you are ready to head a franchise.”
Dobson concurred the appointment of black coaches often becomes a (coaches) box-ticking exercise. He made the point, as the face of the players change, greater trust will emerge. “You have to have proper planning. Some coaches of colour have been hung out to dry. Rito is a great forwards coach now but he's going to be an excellent head coach. He's plenty good enough.”
Mongalo meanwhile has walked the walk at the Lions and the Bulls and his stock is on the rise at the Sharks. He is held in high regard and there is no doubt he will front a URC team.
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