Latest news with #GallagherHighPerformanceAcademy
IOL News
24-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Zenay Jordaan's return potential game-changer for Springbok Women ahead of Rugby World Cup
Zenay Jordaan Former Springbok Women flyhalf Zenay Jordaan (front) will return to the World Cup in a coaching capacity. Photo: BackpagePix Image: BackpagePix Springbok Women performance coach Swys de Bruin has stressed the importance of utilising the intellectual capital of the likes of player-turned-coach Zenay Jordaan as the Rugby World Cup looms ever larger. The 34-year-old Jordaan can offer the Bok Women's staff valuable insight into the tournament. The former flyhalf was a prominent member of the team that featured at the last World Cup, in New Zealand in 2022. She played her last Test for the Bok Women at Waitakere Stadium in Auckland in 2022, bringing to a close a 36-cap career that was a record at the time. Come England and RWC 2025, Jordaan – who recently completed World Rugby's Level 3 coaching course – will return to the global showpiece with the Springbok Women in a coaching capacity, assisting South Africa's coaching staff as part of World Rugby's Gallagher High Performance Academy programme. She is also the assistant coach for the Bulls Daisies, South Africa's top provincial team. 'We all know what a brilliant player she was, and to have the intellectual property of one of the legends in the women's game around is very positive,' De Bruin said. 'As to her role in the coaching set-up, I am adamant about the development of female coaches, as I believe they are the best way forward in the women's game. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Springbok Women's assistant coach Laurian Johannes-Haupt has made a successful transition from player to coach. Image: SA Rugby 'Zenay is already involved with the best provincial team in the country, and to have her around is a benefit to us all. 'The growth of rugby is about spreading the word, not keeping everything in a secluded group of people.' Incidentally, Bok Women assistant coach Laurian Johannes-Haupt was in a similar role in 2022, but she has since progressed into a full-time coaching position in SA Rugby's High-Performance department. Jordaan joined the Bok Women training camp in Stellenbosch last week as the 'on-field' element of her high-performance course kicked in, much to the delight of the former flyhalf. 'I really enjoyed the online part of the course thus far, and I learned so much from so many experienced coaches in that time,' said Jordaan. 'It certainly added to my knowledge and composure as a coach. 'On the field is where I am at my most happy, so to have this opportunity to come and implement those guidelines was as pleasing. 'The fact that I know those players and played with some others at the last tournament has made life easier for me. 'Also, with Laurian, who walked this journey before me, also here was another bonus. 'She has given me good advice where needed, and I can always check in with her if I am not sure about something." Springbok Women's coach Swys de Bruin supports the development of female coaches, as he feels they are the best way forward in the women's game. Image: Henk Kruger/Independent Newspapers Saturday marks 90 days to go to the World Cup in England. 'What has struck me thus far is the quality of the coaches they have here and how they manage to bring the message across to the players,' Jordaan observed. 'There is good communication going both ways. 'The players are asking good questions, and what impressed me is the clarity of communication regarding the sessions so far.' Zenay Jordaan will feature in her fourth @RugbyWorldCup later this year, but this time in a new capacity - more here: 👍#MakeItCount — SA Women's Rugby (@WomenBoks) May 21, 2025 The Bok Women are hoping to improve on their previous best finish at the Rugby World Cup (10th in 2010 and 2014) in England, and Jordaan is quietly optimistic about that. 'So far so good – the 100-day countdown has started, but we should not get ahead of ourselves,' she said. 'The most important thing will be to make the most of each training session and get the maximum value out of that. 'It might sound far away, but it will go fast from here on in, so the quality of work at training from here on in will be very important.' The South Africans have also had to focus on preparations for the defence of their Rugby Africa Women's Cup title in Madagascar next month.
Eyewitness News
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Eyewitness News
Zenay Jordaan to return to Rugby World Cup in coaching role
JOHANNESBURG – Former Springbok Women star Zenay Jordaan returns as a coach. The last time the 34-year-old left the pitch at the Rugby World Cup, she was carried off shoulder high by her Springbok Women teammates and England opponents. She retired after the 2022 New Zealand World Cup, bringing to a close a 36-cap career, at the time the most played by any South African player, having represented South Africa in six global tournaments and been named Springbok Player of the Year in 2013. Come England and RWC 2025, Jordaan, who recently completed World Rugby's Level 3 coaching course, will return to the global showpiece with the Springbok Women in a coaching capacity, assisting South Africa's coaching staff as part of World Rugby's Gallagher High Performance Academy programme. 'I really enjoyed the online part of the course thus far and I learned so much from so many experienced coaches in that time. It certainly added to my knowledge and composure as a coach. On the field is where I am at my most happy, so to have this opportunity to come and implement those guidelines were as pleasing,' said Jordaan, who is also assistant coach for the Bulls Daisies, South Africa's top provincial team. She trained to become a firefighter but gave up that career when she was offered one of South Africa's first women's professional contracts.
