Rassie Erasmus and Junior Bok coach to lead South Africa Select XV

Rassie Erasmus and Junior Bok coach to lead South Africa Select XV

Rassie Erasmus and Bafana Nhleko are reportedly set to lead the South Africa Select XV during the end-of-year tour this November. 

Erasmus has returned to coaching since his ban from World Rugby and made his return to stadiums over the weekend when he attended the Stormers' United Rugby Championship match against Edinburgh.

The World Cup-winning coach is the Springboks' director of rugby and will take a hands-on approach with the South Africa Select XV this November.

According to Sunday newspaper Rapport, Erasmus will be assisted by Junior Boks' head coach Bafana Nhleko who will also work alongside Springbok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick.

The South Africa Select XV are scheduled to play midweek games against Bristol Bears and Munster in November, with the Boks in Test action against Ireland, France, Italy and England.


Nhleko led the Junior Boks to an undefeated U20 Six Nations Summer Series triumph in July and has been tipped for a bright coaching future.

 
 
 

He started his coaching career as a student coach at St John’s High School in Johannesburg before heading up the UJ u20s.


He joined the Lions as a junior coach and was involved with the u19s and u21s before joining John Mitchell's Lions coaching staff as an analyst for the then Vodacom Cup team.

In October 2018, the then Golden Lions U21 coach signed a four-year deal with SA Rugby that will see him continue in his role as Junior Boks assistant coach.

 
An opportunity arose to join the Junior Boks set up in 2018 where he assisted then head coach Chean Roux and was promoted to head coach a year later. 
 
 
 
While the Junior Boks hosted several u20 fixtures between 2019 and the 2022 U20 Six Nations Summer Series, the Summer Series was Nhleko's first major tournament in charge of the side.
 
 
 
 
 

Latest News