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Lions coach finally reveals why he returned home part-way through a tour to Australasia
By Online Editors
NZ Herald
A South African Super Rugby coach says being forced to play on Good Friday led to a mental breakdown.
De Bruin told You magazine that he was tormented by the Good Friday assignment and also the indecent assault conviction against the team's defence coach Joey Mongalo, after an incident in Sydney last year.
The 59-year-old de Bruin said his hotel bed sheets were drenched after he broke out in a cold sweat, and his wife Marilize ordered him home.
"The Lions are a Christian team and I found it incredibly difficult to play on Good Friday," said de Bruin, who led the Lions into last year's final against the Crusaders.
"Many of our supporters criticised us for that too. I felt I should've taken a stand, but I didn't.
"I started getting a hollow feeling in my stomach and thought 'today I'm saying goodbye to the world'. I called my wife and told her I felt as if I were drowning, but didn't know why. She said I should come home immediately."
The Lions went on to score a surprise win over the Chiefs under the guidance of assistant coach Ivan van Rooyen
At the time, it was reported de Bruin had returned home because of a "serious medical condition".
A South African media outlet claimed the team's poor form had led to a "nervous condition". De Bruin had also denied a claim he was in conflict with senior players before the Chiefs game.
One Lions fan said on Facebook "It takes a real man to admit when all is not well! Hats off to our coach. Glad to see him back."
But another said: "He knew when about that fixture long ago."
There was also a complaint about de Swys describing the Lions as a Christian team.
"It also has those of other (beliefs) and no belief," the fan reckoned.
This article first appeared on nzherald.co.nz and is republished with permission.
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Latest Comments
We can all see this problem, eh? Love the clips showing how smart opposition coaches exploit it though. Thanks, Nick.
Borthwick has obviously earned the right to expect people to look elsewhere when the sort of personal problems likely at the heart of Jones' departure occur but it's hard to believe he's, if not entirely to blame, at least most of the problem.
England seem between choices in every aspect of their play to me right now
Go to commentsBM My rugby fanaticism journey began as a youngster waking up in the early hours of the morning with a cup of coffee to watch the Boks play the ABs on that 1981 rebel tour, where we lost the last game in the dying seconds to a penalty, and ended up losing the series 2-1. Danie Gerber, Naas Botha, Ray Mordt, and DuPlessis, to name a few; what a team! I believe we could've won another World Cup with those boys playing in their prime.
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