FILE - Double Rugby World Cup-winning assistant coach Felix Jones is back with the Springboks after a stint with England.
Image: Thomas Samson / AFP
The Springboks coaching staff has been boosted by the return of assistant coach Felix Jones, who will rejoin the team from next month.
Jones, who was part of the Springboks’ successful Rugby World Cup-winning campaigns in 2019 and 2023, had left the Boks to join Steve Borthwick’s England staff in 2024.
But he reportedly grew unhappy with what was described as an “unstable working environment.” The RFU then held Jones to the 12-month notice period on his contract, despite his desire to leave the position after just eight months. That period has since expired and Jones will rejoin the Boks on Saturday, March 1.
Coach Rassie Erasmus unveiled his updated management team on Thursday, with the three new additions to the coaching and management groups being Jones, as well as Lance Lemmetjies, who will join the medical team as one of two physiotherapists from June following the departure of Rene Naylor, and Robyn Moore, as the team dietician from April 1.
According to statement, their appointments will be for the next cycle concluding with the Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia.
Lemmetjies – who is currently the Vodacom Bulls’ physiotherapist – will rejoin the team after spending time with the squad during the British & Irish Lions Series in 2021 and serving in the role during the South Africa ‘A’ tour in 2022. Moore, meanwhile, has also worked directly with the Springboks for the last few seasons.
“We are delighted to welcome Felix back into the Springbok team and we are excited to see him pick up where he left off in 2023,” said Erasmus.
“He was a vital cog in the coaching team from 2019 to 2023, and his experience, professionalism, and excellent work ethic will make him a great addition to the fantastic coaching team we built from the beginning of 2024.
“Felix worked very closely with most of our coaches in the past, and I have no doubt he’ll work equally closely with Jerry (Flannery) and Tony (Brown), who joined us last season.
“After spending some time in England, his experience of working in the UK and studying the opposition teams in the Six Nations and other international tournaments will add immense value in assisting us to adapt and improve as we cast an eye on a tough international season ahead.
“As a team we are well aware that we need to keep improving and growing if we want to remain one of the best teams in the world and to give ourselves the best possible chance to defend our World Cup title in Australia in 2027, and Felix, like all the other coaching and support staff, will play a key role in guiding us to do so.”
The Springbok coaches will host their first in-person planning block for the year from Friday March 7, followed by an alignment camp with 56 players in Cape Town from Monday, March 10, which will be followed by two virtual alignment camps with the Japanese and European-based players and a handful of talented and injured domestic players on Wednesday, March 27.
Rassie Erasmus: Head Coach
Charles Wessels: General Manager
Tony Brown: Assistant Coach
Deon Davids: Assistant Coach
Jerry Flannery: Assistant Coach
Daan Human: Assistant Coach
Felix Jones: Assistant Coach
Mzwandile Stick: Assistant Coach
Duane Vermeulen: Mobi-Unit Coach
Andy Edwards: Head of Athletic Performance
Jaco Peyper: Laws and Discipline Advisor
Paddy Sullivan: Performance Analyst
Lindsay Weyer: Technical Analyst
Sebastian Prim: Sport Scientist
Dr Jerome Lehlogonolo Mampane: Team Doctor
Dr Anuerin Robyn: Physiotherapist
Lance Lemmetjies: Physiotherapist
JJ Fredericks: Logistics Manager
Zintsika Tashe: Operations Manager
Zeena Isaacs van Tonder: Media Manager
Robyn Moore: Dietician
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