Phillip Snyman, the former captain of the Springbok Sevens, has been named the head coach of the Blitzboks after serving in an acting role for the past six months. South Africa Rugby announced his appointment on Friday.
Snyman stepped in as interim coach in March following a string of disappointing results. During his tenure, the Blitzboks triumphed at the World Rugby Sevens Repechage tournament in Monaco, securing their place in the Paris Olympic Games, where they ultimately earned a bronze medal.
SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer highlighted that Snyman’s confirmation as head coach, extending until the next Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028, is part of the governing body’s ongoing high-performance restructuring initiative.
“The turnaround under Phillip’s leadership has been impressive and reflects his coaching capabilities,” Oberholzer stated. “Their achievements in Monaco and Paris indicated that he can restore the Blitzboks to their past successes, and we are glad to have him on board.”
Oberholzer added that Snyman’s experience as a former captain, having participated in 62 World Series events, two Rugby World Cup Sevens tournaments, and a gold medal performance at the Commonwealth Games, equips him with significant knowledge of the Springbok Sevens. Notably, he is the only individual to have earned medals as both a player and a coach at the Olympics.
Snyman, who has also coached Uganda and Germany prior to becoming an assistant coach for the Blitzboks in 2023, expressed gratitude to SA Rugby for their trust in him.
“It is a tremendous honor to be appointed as the full-time head coach, a role that requires the very best from the Blitzboks, which I have always aspired to as a coach,” Snyman remarked. “While we have achieved some positive results recently, there is much work ahead. We still have a long way to go to be a top-three team, and we will diligently strive to reach that level.”