SA Rugby President Mark Alexander has formally thanked Swys de Bruin following his departure as Springbok Women head coach at the end of August, with assistants Franzel September and Laurian Johannes Haupt named as co-head coaches for the remainder of the season.
De Bruin joined SA Rugby's High Performance Department in August 2024 and moved into the head coaching role as the Springbok Women prepared for the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup in England. His two-year tenure produced a 14-win record from 21 matches and, most significantly, a quarter-final appearance at the World Cup — the team's best ever result at the global showpiece — before falling to the Black Ferns. The side also broke into the World Rugby top 10 for the first time during his tenure.
Alexander specifically cited victories over Japan, Italy and the USA — all ranked above South Africa at the time — as defining moments, and pointed to De Bruin's tactical inventiveness as a hallmark of the period. "Our team developed a unique style of play and an unpredictability that captured massive attention. Who will forget the 14-player lineout or setting up a maul from a scrum in that quarter-final against the Black Ferns," Alexander said.
Alexander also credited De Bruin with broadening the team's commercial appeal. "That connection contributed to the growing support behind the Springbok Women. It also attracted greater corporate backing."
Beyond the playing programme, De Bruin's original brief as a coach mentor within SA Rugby's High Performance structures drew specific acknowledgement. "It was clear that he has the ability to convey his knowledge to players and coaches alike. That experience contributed meaningfully to the development of our current coaching group," Alexander said.
September and Haupt will now lead the Springbok Women into the WXV Global Series, which includes tests against Wales, Italy, Spain and Ireland. SA Rugby confirmed additional coaching support will be brought in where required.