Former Springbok Sevens captain Phillip Snyman has officially been named the head coach of the Blitzboks after serving in an interim role for the past six months. South Africa Rugby announced the decision on Friday.
Snyman stepped in as the interim coach in March, following a stretch of disappointing performances. Under his leadership, the Blitzboks secured victory at the World Rugby Sevens Repechage tournament in Monaco, which earned them a spot in the Olympic Games in Paris, where they clinched a bronze medal.
SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer praised Snyman’s remarkable turnaround of the team in such a short period, noting that it demonstrated his coaching capabilities. Oberholzer expressed confidence in Snyman’s ability to restore the Blitzboks to their past glory, highlighting his deep understanding of the Springbok Sevens gained through his extensive experience as a player.
Having participated in 62 World Series events, two Rugby World Cup Sevens tournaments, and a Commonwealth Games gold medal campaign, Snyman is uniquely positioned, as he is the only individual to have earned medals as both a player and a coach at the Olympics.
In his previous roles, Snyman has coached Uganda and Germany before joining the Blitzboks as an assistant earlier this year. He expressed gratitude to SA Rugby for the trust placed in him and stated that he sees this role as a great honor. Snyman acknowledged the challenges ahead, emphasizing the team’s need for improvement to become a top-three contender in the sport.