Phillip Snyman, the former captain of the Springbok Sevens team, has been named the head coach of the Blitzboks after serving in an acting capacity for the past six months. South Africa Rugby announced this appointment on Friday.
Snyman stepped in as interim coach in March due to a succession of disappointing results. Under his leadership, the Blitzboks triumphed in the World Rugby Sevens Repechage tournament held in Monaco, securing a spot in the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris, where they achieved a bronze medal finish.
Rian Oberholzer, the CEO of SA Rugby, stated that Snyman’s confirmation as head coach, a role that will extend until the next Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028, is part of a larger restructuring effort focused on high performance.
Oberholzer praised Snyman’s ability to quickly turnaround the team’s fortunes, noting that their performances in Monaco and Paris demonstrated his potential to restore the Blitzboks to their previous successes. He also highlighted Snyman’s extensive experience, having participated in 62 world series events, two Rugby World Cup Sevens tournaments, and a Commonwealth Games where the team won gold.
Snyman, also recognized as the only individual to have won Olympic medals both as a player and a coach, previously served as head coach for Uganda and Germany before becoming an assistant coach for the Blitzboks in 2023. He expressed gratitude towards SA Rugby for their trust in him.
“It is a massive honor to be appointed as full-time head coach, a role that requires the best from the Blitzboks and one that I have always aspired to,” said Snyman. He acknowledged that despite recent success, there is still significant work ahead as the team aims to return to being a top-three contender.