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Rugby Union

De Villiers takes Boks post

09/01/2008

Peter de Villiers has become the first black coach of South Africa after being named as Rugby World Cup winner Jake White's successor.

White left the job at the turn of the year when his contract expired, saying he had taken the team as far as he could after lifting the Webb Ellis Cup in France.

And 50-year-old De Villiers, who has resigned as under-21s coach in order to take over the reigns of the senior team, was preferred to former Bulls coach Heyneke Meyer - the favourite to take the job.

South Africa Rugby Union (SARU) president Oregan Hoskins said: "Peter comes with a good record and strong recommendation and I am delighted that he has accepted this huge challenge.

"South African rugby is on top of the world at the moment and SARU is confident that the new coach will build on this great momentum and move us into a new era."

Hoskins continued: "Peter has created history today by becoming the first black person to coach the Springboks.

"He is a strong leader and a coach with a proven track record. We trust that the rugby fraternity will support him and the team as we embark on an exciting new phase of rugby in South Africa.

"I am sure that Peter will make a major contribution to our rugby."

De Villiers' first competitive fixture as Springboks coach will be in the 2008 Tri-Nations, with a daunting trip to New Zealand in July to face the All Blacks.