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15 September 2021 | Story Jóhann Thormählen | Photo Gallo Images
Swys de Bruin, a former Kovsie, has been appointed as the new Director of Coaching at the Shimlas.

A former Springbok assistant coach and a coach involved with the FNB Shimlas when they lifted the 2015 Varsity Cup will be steering the ship at the University of the Free State (UFS) over the next few years.

The UFS has appointed two renowned coaches – both alumni – in Swys de Bruin and André Tredoux as the new Director of Coaching and Head Coach of the Shimlas, respectively.

The duo will start in November 2021, with De Bruin at the helm for two years and Tredoux for three years. De Bruin, a former Springbok attack coach and a current SuperSport analyst, will be in charge of the UFS coaching structures, working alongside Tredoux at the Shimlas.

Tredoux returns to the UFS after being the head coach of the Nelson Mandela University for the Varsity Cup. He takes over from Pote Human. Human had a one-year contract with the Shimlas and has been appointed head coach of the Houston SaberCats in America.

More new faces

Another new addition to the coaching team is Tiaan Liebenberg. The former Bok was an assistant coach at the Central University of Technology in the 2021 Varsity Cup.

Hendro Scholtz and Rashied Isaacs will stay part of the UFS coaching team. 

Liebenberg, Scholtz, and Isaacs all played for the Shimlas. 

Jaco Swanepoel, Head of Rugby at KovsieSport, says the UFS is excited about what lies ahead.

Wealth of experience

De Bruin has an extensive coaching CV and has been involved with teams such as Griquas, the Sharks, and the Lions. He was an assistant coach and head coach at the Lions, winning the Currie Cup and being Super Rugby finalists in 2016, 2017, and 2018.

“It is a great privilege to get the services of someone like Swys,” Swanepoel said.

“The other coaches and the players will benefit a lot from working with him.”

Tredoux has coached at Slava Moscow in Russia, at the NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes in Japan, at Paarl Boys High, and was the U19 Head Coach and Head of Recruitment at the Cheetahs.

André Tredoux returns to the University of the Free State, where he has coached
before, to take up the role as new Head Coach of the Shimlas.(Photo: Supplied)


At the UFS, he was the Shimla performance analyst in 2015, assistant coach of the UFS Young Guns who won the 2014 Varsity Cup, and head coach of the 2015 Young Guns that came second in the tournament.

“André has walked the road with us before and has since gained experience in Japan and Russia,” Swanepoel said.

“His recruitment knowledge also speaks volumes. He was the recruiter in 2014 and 2015 when the Young Guns and the Shimlas won the Varsity Cup, respectively.

“It is great to have him back.”

The new Shimla coaching staff:

Swys de Bruin (Director of Coaching), André Tredoux (Head Coach), Hendro Scholtz, Tiaan Liebenberg, Rashied Isaacs (all assistant coaches), Mark Nicholls (Conditioning coach), Edith Maritz (Physiotherapist).


News Archive

Intervarsity 2013 a paragon of friendly rivalry
2013-08-06

 

Photo: RooistoelTv
10 August 2013

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The recent intervarsity between the University of the Free State (UFS) and the North-West University was a huge success. This 70th celebration of intervarsity between the two institutions, which took place for the first time in 1927, is the oldest event of its kind in South Africa.

According to Rudi Buys, Dean of Student Affairs at the UFS, it is also the most comprehensive and most innovative intervarsity in the country and since 2010 includes all incorporated campuses of universities such as the University of the North. The focus is no longer on sports only, but also on cultural programmes and forums for discussion between student leaders.

Of the 32 sport and culture activities intervarsities between the UFS and the NWU, the UFS won 16, the NWU 13 and three ended in a tie.

Sports and cultural activities like debate were held across the Bloemfontein Campus. Record numbers of supporters attended the different matches, debating competitions and festivities. The first SRC Presidents’ Reunion that took place during the intervarsity is regarded as a special milestone in the history of the UFS.

“We are particularly satisfied that students of diverse backgrounds and campuses took part in and attended intervarsity events and in this way showcased the rich variety of Kovsies with great pride,” Buys said.

“The successful course of the intervarsity confirms that it is important for the UFS to maintain its proud history of almost 100 years with the NWU, but to also update in order to reflect our young democracy and in pace with a young generation of South Africans who are now our students,” Buys concluded.

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