Duane Vermeulen linked with new role after SOS from former Springboks team-mate
The 37-year-old took on the position after Izak van der Westhuizen was demoted following a disappointing Challenge Cup campaign, where they missed out on the last-16.
Steyn, who has held the director of rugby role since October 2023, has duly been selected as the Bloemfontein outfit’s head coach with Van der Westerhuizen in charge of the forwards for the upcoming SA Cup campaign.
They have been joined on the coaching staff by Ruan Pienaar, but the Cheetahs are also hoping to bring Springboks duo Daan Human and Vermeulen on board.
Springboks role and responsibility
The former is the Boks’ scrum guru while the latter is a ‘mobi-unit’ coach, which means he offers help to South Africa’s various national teams, including men’s, women’s and age-grade sides.
“I know Frans is in contact with Springbok assistant coaches like [scrum coach] Daan Human and [former Bok No 8] Duane Vermeulen to occasionally lend a hand with the coaching,” Cheetahs CEO Rory Duncan told Rapport. “It would obviously be great.”
Duncan, who was head coach of the Cheetahs until 2018, was announced as the club’s chief executive earlier this month and their first big move under his tenure was to change the coaching structure.
It is a bold decision with Steyn and Pienaar taking on a coaching role for the first time in their respective rugby careers.
“All three coaches bring a wealth of experience in professional rugby, and the Toyota Cheetahs are fortunate to have them in our camp,” he added.
“This is Frans and Ruan’s debut as coaches. They were both exceptional and versatile players, and their range of experience can only benefit the team. I strongly believe in allowing people to grow, and as a company, we will support them in their campaign.”
Academy production line
The Cheetahs are the biggest South African franchise not to be involved in the United Rugby Championship, with the Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers the four teams represented in the competition.
Although they have been invited to feature in the Challenge Cup, their lack of URC involvement has harmed their playing stocks.
Duncan is therefore looking to go down a different route going forward as they look to improve their production line at age-grade level.
“Before I left, 40% to 45% of the players came through our own academy structures,” he added.
“That pipeline is something we need to re-establish. We need to retain as much of our own talent as possible. We have good schools in the area.
“It’s important to retain players from Grey [College], Shimlas [University of the Free State] and Ixias [Central University of Technology].”
