Rob du Preez confirmed as Sharks assistant coach
The Cell C Sharks have confirmed that former Springbok scrumhalf Robert du Preez will be an assistant coach for the 2016 Super Rugby competition.
Du Preez will also take the reigns as head coach in next year's Absa Currie Cup competition.
Sharks Director of Rugby Gary Gold will continue as head coach for next year's Super Rugby competition, while Du Preez will assist.
Du Preez most recently coached the Leopards to the 2015 Currie Cup First Division title, and Gold spoke highly of his coaching pedigree.
“We are immensely happy to confirm the appointment of Robert du Preez. It was an appointment that we thought long and hard about. We identified that we wanted to bring in a coach who fitted a particular profile, someone who was South African and someone that understands our unique culture and who also has a strong belief in a disciplined environment," Gold said.
“We believe that Robert ticks every single box. The route that his coaching career has gone has been absolutely textbook in terms of the success he enjoyed at College Rovers, where he won 67 out of the 70 games he coached there, then with NWU-Pukke as well as the knowledge he has of unearthing the potential of young players coming through the ranks and obviously his recent success with the Leopards. He has certainly shown that there is a consistency to what he does.
“Being a former Sharks player and having played here during the glory years of the nineties, Robert is passionate about Sharks rugby. He is the ideal candidate to assist our young players during this transitional phase to senior rugby. He has enjoyed great success in his coaching career so far and he will certainly be an asset to our coaching unit,” added Gold.
Having played for Natal and coached College Rovers in the past, Du Preez said he was looking forward to returning to Durban.
“It’s fantastic to come back home to a union I had such great memories at. My role is obviously different this time around, which will present fantastic new challenges. I believe that there is great talent in the province and I am looking forward to working with the Sharks coaching team," Du Preez said.
The Sharks also announced that Omar Mouneimne will join the Union as defence coach next season. He has previously coached at Edinburgh as well as Scotland.
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