SA Rugby send message to departing Springbok Women’s coach

After two successful years as head coach of the Springbok Women’s team, Swys de Bruin has opted to leave his position, with Franzel September and Laurian Johannes‑Haupt stepping into the roles of co‑head coaches for the remainder of the season.

Although there were some reports that De Bruin left his role due to a dispute with SA Rugby related to win bonuses, he has subsequently denied this was the case.

Despite his abrupt departure mid-season raising some speculation, SA Rugby President Mark Alexander has extended his thanks and gratitude to De Bruin.

“Swys quickly endeared himself to fans and supporters of the women’s game and that connection contributed to the growing support behind the Springbok Women. It also attracted greater corporate backing,” said Alexander.

He added that De Bruin’s innovative approach left a lasting imprint on the team’s identity.

“Our team developed a unique style of play and an unpredictability that captured massive attention. Who will forget the 14‑player lineout or setting up a maul from a scrum in that quarter‑final against the Black Ferns.”

Great success for Springbok Women under De Bruin

De Bruin joined SA Rugby’s High‑Performance Department in August 2024 and soon transitioned into leading the Springbok Women’s coaching group during their preparation for the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup in England.

Under his guidance, the Springbok Women achieved their best‑ever result at the global showpiece by reaching the quarter‑finals, where they were defeated by the Black Ferns. The team also broke into the top 10 of the World Rugby rankings for the first time.

During De Bruin’s tenure, the Springbok Women recorded memorable victories over Japan, Italy and the USA, all of whom were ranked higher than South Africa at the time. They won 14 of the 21 matches played under his leadership, including fixtures against the Barbarians Women and the Black Ferns XV in Cape Town.

Future planning

The Springbok Women are preparing for Tests against Wales, Italy, Spain and Ireland in the WXV Global Series, with additional coaching support to be added where required.

“Swys is one of our leading coaches in our country and we wish him well for the future. We respect his decision to move forward in his career and thank him sincerely for his contribution to the growth of women’s rugby,” Alexander concluded.