SA Rugby raid Stormers for ex Super Rugby coach Wessels

Former Western Force and Melbourne Rebels head coach Dave Wessels has been appointed to a new role of General Manager for High Performance Rugby at SA Rugby.

Wessels (41) - heretofore head of rugby at DHL Stormers/Western Province - will start his new role with SA Rugby with immediate effect.

Wessels transitioned from a successful website development career and an IT master's degree at UCT to rugby coaching in 2008. Initially a consultant for DHL Western Province/Stormers, he became an assistant coach at UCT and ACT Brumbies, then head coach of Western Force and Melbourne Rebels, becoming Super Rugby's youngest head coach. After a decade in Australia, he returned to South Africa in 2022 as head of rugby for DHL Western Province/Stormers.

Wessels said: “Rassie gave me my first real job in rugby back in 2008 and I know what a good environment he runs. It’s a privilege to be part of a world-leading organisation such as SA Rugby.

“The needs of high-performance environments are always changing, and my job will be to offer support and create systems that will ensure sustained success for South Africa's teams into the future.

“This is a big challenge, and I hope that the experiences I’ve had in various roles both here and overseas for the past decade and a half will be beneficial.

“I’m also very grateful to the DHL Stormers. It’s been wonderful to be a part of the team over the last few years and I wish the guys all the best.”

The move furthers SA Rugby's rugby department overhaul which started with Rassie Erasmus returning to the head coach role having been director of rugby. Additionally, the "GM: Rugby" role has been scrapped, with Charles Wessels (no relation) concentrating solely on Springbok matters.

“We are undertaking a review of all rugby activities and ensuring the structure is best purposed to meet the needs of our national teams,” said Rian Oberholzer, CEO of SA Rugby. “These changes begin the process of providing better support for all our national teams and further changes are being considered.

“The appointment of Dave Wessels achieves two objectives – it allows Rassie and Charles Wessels to focus solely on the national team while creating a resource that can provide greater direction and support to our other national teams.

“In particular it will allow for greater emphasis on the strategic needs and future plans of our sevens, women’s and junior national teams whose requirements will now receive singular attention.”