In an ambitious move to elevate Eastern Province (EP) rugby, the newly appointed scrum coach, Matt Proudfoot, has set his sights on building an indomitable forward pack under the watchful eyes of Allister Coetzee. This reunion marks a revival of a formidable coaching duo that has seen its fair share of rugby pitches—from the Stormers and Western Province to the Springboks and even Japan's Kobelco Steelers.
Proudfoot, who famously engineered the Springboks' scrum during their 2019 World Cup triumph and later lent his expertise to England's pack, has returned to South Africa, bringing his rich coaching acumen to the struggling EP team. His most recent stint was leading the Leopards in Potchefstroom. "I aim to create a powerful pack of forwards – that's what I enjoy, and that's where I'll be throwing all my attention," Proudfoot declared with a focused determination.
"As a coach, you can either hunt trophies or be part of something bigger, and that's what brought me here. EP's president, the executive and Allister all want to put EP rugby back where it belongs."
His blueprint for revival hinges on nurturing coaching talent and luring local stars back to their roots. Proudfoot pointed out, "Boland have shown the recipe – get players back to your union and activate the greater rugby footprint in the area." This strategy is crucial as EP rugby strives to climb from their current middle-of-the-pack standings—they finished seventh out of ten in this year's SA Cup and third in the Currie Cup First Division, suffering a semi-final defeat to the Griffons.
"I've coached with Allister for 12 years with different teams. We had eight seasons together at the Stormers, two in Japan, and two with the Boks. Allister is probably the man in world rugby I have the biggest respect for, and I think I've done my best work alongside him."
The dynamic between Proudfoot and Coetzee is not just about past glories but a deep-seated respect and a proven track record that promises to reignite the passion and performance of EP rugby. With these two at the helm, the Eastern Province's rugby scene looks set to embark on a thrilling resurgence.
2,193 posts
In an ambitious move to elevate Eastern Province (EP) rugby, the newly appointed scrum coach, Matt Proudfoot, has set his sights on building an indomitable forward pack under the watchful eyes of Allister Coetzee. This reunion marks a revival of a formidable coaching duo that has seen its fair share of rugby pitches—from the Stormers and Western Province to the Springboks and even Japan's Kobelco Steelers.
Proudfoot, who famously engineered the Springboks' scrum during their 2019 World Cup triumph and later lent his expertise to England's pack, has returned to South Africa, bringing his rich coaching acumen to the struggling EP team. His most recent stint was leading the Leopards in Potchefstroom. "I aim to create a powerful pack of forwards – that's what I enjoy, and that's where I'll be throwing all my attention," Proudfoot declared with a focused determination.
"As a coach, you can either hunt trophies or be part of something bigger, and that's what brought me here. EP's president, the executive and Allister all want to put EP rugby back where it belongs."
His blueprint for revival hinges on nurturing coaching talent and luring local stars back to their roots. Proudfoot pointed out, "Boland have shown the recipe – get players back to your union and activate the greater rugby footprint in the area." This strategy is crucial as EP rugby strives to climb from their current middle-of-the-pack standings—they finished seventh out of ten in this year's SA Cup and third in the Currie Cup First Division, suffering a semi-final defeat to the Griffons.
"I've coached with Allister for 12 years with different teams. We had eight seasons together at the Stormers, two in Japan, and two with the Boks. Allister is probably the man in world rugby I have the biggest respect for, and I think I've done my best work alongside him."
The dynamic between Proudfoot and Coetzee is not just about past glories but a deep-seated respect and a proven track record that promises to reignite the passion and performance of EP rugby. With these two at the helm, the Eastern Province's rugby scene looks set to embark on a thrilling resurgence.