Bok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick will be supported by his agency should he chase his dream of becoming Springbok head coach in the future.
Image: BackpagePix
Mzwandile Stick has dreams of becoming the next Springbok head coach, and while Rassie Erasmus will remain at the helm until at least the 2031 Rugby World Cup in the United States, Stick will receive the necessary support to realise that goal.
The current Bok assistant coach, who has risen through the South African coaching ranks, is tipped to be part of the succession planning for the four-time Rugby World Cup winners.
And while there will be other candidates vying for the top coaching job in the country, Stick will have the backing of his agency, Roc Nation Sports International (RNSI), in his pursuit of the head coach role.
Michael Yormark, president of RNSI, confirmed that the agency will support the former Blitzbok captain in every possible way to help him reach that point. He is currently the only rugby coach signed to RNSI, having joined Bok captain Siya Kolisi, winger Cheslin Kolbe, fullback Aphelele Fassi, and utility back Jordan Hendrikse, who are among the players represented by the agency.
“I believe Stick would love to be the head coach of the Springboks one day,” Yormark said.
“That is a goal and dream of his, and we want to support him on the road to that, whichever way we can. However, there are other things to accomplish before that. Our goal is to support him on an exclusive basis. So, he will remain the only coach signed to us.
“He was a great story and, God willing, he will continue to progress in his career here in South Africa.”
Stick was the head coach of the Eastern Province U19 team and won the domestic title in 2015 — a first for the province. He joined the Southern Kings for the 2016 Super Rugby season as backline coach, before linking up with the Boks under former coach Allister Coetzee.
He endured a rocky spell in the Springbok setup during that period, but found his footing again with the Junior Springboks. The appointment of Erasmus in 2018 then saw him make a remarkable return to the national side.
Shortly thereafter, they won the 2019 Rugby World Cup, a British and Irish Lions series, and defended their title at the 2023 tournament in France. Most recently, the Springboks also defended their Rugby Championship title in back-to-back seasons.
Stick, who has coached over 100 Tests with the Boks, has become an integral part of the national setup and will play a key role as they look to win the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia for a record third time in a row.