Phillip Snyman, the former captain of the Springbok Sevens, has been named the head coach of the Blitzboks following his role as acting coach over the past six months. South Africa Rugby announced his appointment on Friday.
Snyman stepped into the interim coach position in March after the team experienced a string of disappointing results. During his leadership, the Blitzboks achieved victory in the World Rugby Sevens Repechage tournament held in Monaco, securing their spot in the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris, where they finished with a bronze medal.
According to Rian Oberholzer, CEO of SA Rugby, this confirmation of Snyman’s leadership role, extending until the next Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028, is part of the organization’s ongoing high-performance restructuring efforts. Oberholzer praised Snyman’s ability to quickly improve the team’s performance, noting that their successes in Monaco and Paris demonstrated his capacity to restore the Blitzboks to their past glory.
As a former captain, Snyman brings significant experience, having participated in 62 World Series events, two Rugby World Cup Sevens tournaments, and a Commonwealth Games that resulted in a gold medal for the team. He is also unique in the sport for holding Olympic medals as both a player and a coach.
Expressing gratitude towards SA Rugby for their confidence, Snyman stated, “It is a massive honour to be appointed as full-time head coach, a position that demands the best of what the Blitzboks can be and a position I always aspired to when I became a coach.” He acknowledged that despite the recent achievements, there is still considerable work ahead to elevate the team to a top-three contender status.