Felix Jones has returned to the Springboks coaching set-up in what represents a significant coup for South African rugby as head coach Rassie Erasmus bolsters his backroom staff with a tactician who helped engineer back-to-back World Cup triumphs.

Felix Jones will rejoin the #Springboks management as Rassie Erasmus confirmed his support team on Thursday – more here: https://t.co/gHvHKZHmht 🏉#ForeverGreenForeverGold pic.twitter.com/CNJ5O8I7Jk

— Springboks (@Springboks) February 27, 2025

Jones, who left the Springboks after their 2023 World Cup victory in France to join England’s coaching staff, will resume his role as an assistant coach from 1 March following his departure from the England regime. The announcement, made on Thursday by SA Rugby, sees the Dubliner return to a system where he previously flourished, having been instrumental in South Africa’s global dominance in recent years.

Erasmus, who has meticulously constructed his support team ahead of the next World Cup cycle, made no attempt to downplay the significance of Jones’s return. “We are delighted to welcome Felix back into the Springbok team and we are excited to see him pick up where he left off in 2023,” said Erasmus.

“He was a vital cog in the coaching team from 2019 to 2023, and his experience, professionalism, and excellent work ethic will make him a great addition to the fantastic coaching team we built from the beginning of 2024.”
The 37-year-old former Ireland international’s appointment is part of a broader announcement that also includes the addition of Lance Lemmetjies as a physiotherapist and Robyn Moore as team dietician, with all three appointments extending through to the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.

During his previous stint with the Springboks, Jones fulfilled a crucial role with the coaching staff while conducting detailed opposition analysis – work that proved invaluable during both successful World Cup campaigns.

His return sees him join a coaching team that already includes another Irishman in Jerry Flannery, who was appointed as defence coach in early 2025. “Felix worked very closely with most of our coaches in the past, and I have no doubt he’ll work equally closely with Jerry (Flannery) and Tony (Brown), who joined us last season,” Erasmus added.

Jones made the decision to move to England after the 2023 World Cup to be closer to his family in the UK, as noted in the SA Rugby statement. Despite this previous departure, Erasmus believes Jones’s experience during this period will prove beneficial to the Springboks.

“After spending some time in England, his experience of working in the UK and studying the opposition teams in the Six Nations and other international tournaments will add immense value in assisting us to adapt and improve as we cast an eye on a tough international season ahead,” he said.

The timing of Jones’s return is significant, with the Springbok coaches set to host their first in-person planning session for the year from 7 March, followed by an alignment camp with 56 players in Cape Town from 10 March. Further virtual alignment camps with Japanese and European-based players, along with selected domestic talents, will take place on 27 March.

Jones rejoins a comprehensive management team that features Tony Brown as attack coach alongside Deon Davids, Daan Human, Mzwandile Stick, and former Springboks captain Duane Vermeulen in a “Mobi-Unit Coach” role. The structure reflects Erasmus’s philosophy of surrounding himself with specialists while maintaining overall strategic control.

SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer expressed confidence that Jones’s return would strengthen an already formidable coaching group. “We all know the value that Felix added to the team during his time with the Springboks and we are confident his presence will strengthen the coaching group even further,” he said.

“The management team behind the scenes plays an equally important role in ensuring that the team functions optimally from a player welfare and operational perspective so that the players have everything they need to perform to the best of their ability on the team, so it’s fantastic that Lance and Robyn are also on board to impart their knowledge and expertise. We believe these additions to the team will benefit Rassie and his support staff immensely.”

For South Africa, the reappointment of Jones signals their intent to remain at rugby’s summit. As Erasmus noted: “As a team we are well aware that we need to keep improving and growing if we want to remain one of the best teams in the world and to give ourselves the best possible chance to defend our World Cup title in Australia in 2027, and Felix, like all the other coaching and support staff, will play a key role in guiding us to do so.”

With Jones’s appointment, Erasmus has effectively reassembled key components of the coaching brain trust that masterminded consecutive World Cup victories, while simultaneously incorporating fresh perspectives through newer additions like Brown and Flannery. This blend of continuity and innovation suggests South Africa are leaving nothing to chance as they plot their path towards an unprecedented third consecutive World Cup triumph in 2027.

For Jones himself, the return to South Africa represents a homecoming of sorts, rejoining a coaching environment where his analytical skills and tactical acumen were not just valued but instrumental in creating rugby history. The Irishman now finds himself back in a set-up where his specific talents have already proven so effective on the game’s grandest stage.

South African rugby stalwart Steven Kitshoff has been forced to end his illustrious career at the age of 33, following specialist medical advice regarding a serious neck injury that nearly claimed his life. The double World Cup-winning prop, known for his distinctive red hair and formidable presence in the front row, made the announcement on Tuesday after an extensive rehabilitation process failed to restore sufficient mobility to his neck.

The end of an era. What a journey it has been with @StevenKitshoff 🩶💙

Full announcement https://t.co/vuluraHUsm#iamastormer #kitsie pic.twitter.com/sLFKRNkVIP

— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) February 25, 2025

Kitshoff sustained the potentially catastrophic injury during a Currie Cup match for Western Province last year. What seemed initially like a pulled muscle revealed itself to be something far more serious. “It was just another scrum, then three cracking noises – pop, pop, pop,” Kitshoff told Rapport newspaper. “I kept playing, thinking it was a pulled muscle. But now I know, I was two millimetres away from catastrophe, from death.”

Kitshoff’s journey to rugby stardom began early, with the front-row powerhouse first called into the Stormers squad as an 18-year-old, requiring special permission to train with the senior team at such a young age. He made his debut for the Cape Town franchise in 2011 and quickly established himself as a considerable force in the front row.

After developing into a breakout star for South Africa’s U20 team during their triumphant 2012 Junior World Championship campaign, the Paul Roos Gymnasium alumnus cemented himself as a dominant force at senior level. He played a key role in Western Province’s Currie Cup triumph that same year, signalling the arrival of a special talent.

His remarkable skills earned him a move to Bordeaux-Bègles in 2015, where he further honed his craft in the French Top 14 before returning to South Africa in 2017. Kitshoff would later add another overseas stint to his CV with a term at Ulster during the 2023-2024 season, before returning to the Stormers in July 2024 – a homecoming that was intended to be the final chapter of his playing career.

Kitshoff earned his first Springbok cap against Ireland in 2016 and went on to establish himself as a cornerstone of the national team’s fearsome forward pack. Despite starting just 29 of his 83 Test appearances, his impact was immense – particularly as a founding member of the renowned “Bomb Squad”, South Africa’s powerful replacement front row that proved decisive in many Test matches.

Initially an understudy to Tendai “Beast” Mtawarira leading up to the 2019 Rugby World Cup, Kitshoff succeeded the legendary Bok centurion to make the number one jersey his own. He was instrumental in South Africa’s World Cup victories in both Japan 2019 and France 2023, powering the Springbok scrum to glory at the latter tournament as a starter in the final.

His international achievements also include a victorious British & Irish Lions series win in 2021, further cementing his status as a key figure in Springbok history. Known for his superhuman engine and rare breakdown ability for a prop, his teammates affectionately nicknamed him “Spicy Plum” and “Big Red”.

At club level, Kitshoff’s leadership qualities came to the fore when he captained the Stormers to a historic United Rugby Championship title in 2022. His 138 caps for the Cape Town-based franchise make him the third-most capped player in the club’s history, behind only fellow props Brok Harris and Frans Malherbe.

Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson paid tribute to Kitshoff’s contribution: “Steven Kitshoff is an iconic player who will go down as one of the greats of our game. Beyond his undeniable impact on the field and impressive longevity, Steven stands out as a top human being who treated everyone with respect and always remained firmly grounded.”

The devastating injury that ultimately forced Kitshoff’s retirement required stabilising surgery after initial conservative therapy proved insufficient. Following the procedure to fuse his C1 and C2 vertebrae and an extensive rehabilitation process, specialists delivered the sobering news: Kitshoff was left with significantly reduced rotation of his neck – reportedly losing about 50% of his neck mobility.

The advice from a specialist neurosurgeon was unequivocal – there would be a high risk of another, potentially catastrophic injury should he continue playing. The specialist’s words to Kitshoff were chilling: “Listen, you’re lucky we didn’t bury you in a week, because the vertebra that shifted is so close to my brain canal.”
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Reflecting on the difficult decision to retire, Kitshoff said: “Playing rugby has been my life from a young age and I was lucky enough to live the dream of many young boys by representing the Springboks and the DHL Stormers. It is obviously incredibly disappointing for my career to end in this way, but unfortunately the risk to my wellbeing was simply too high.”

He added: “I really wanted to finish my story with the DHL Stormers on the pitch and gave the rehab and comeback the best shot I could, but it was not to be.”

The prop expressed gratitude to those who supported him throughout his career: “There are so many people who have provided incredible support for me over the years, not least my wife Aimee and my parents. I will always be grateful to all of the coaches, teammates and support staff at both the DHL Stormers and SA Rugby and of course the fans who have had such a big impact on my career.”

Despite the premature end to his playing days, Kitshoff remains positive about the future: “As much as I will miss playing and the special feeling of running out to represent something much bigger than myself, I am also looking forward to an exciting new chapter in my life. I’ll be there at DHL Stadium cheering the boys on, just like I did as a youngster. I walk away from my playing days with so many incredible memories that I will cherish forever.”

Kitshoff’s retirement represents a significant loss for both the Stormers and the Springboks. His combination of technical excellence at the set-piece, remarkable work rate around the field, and leadership qualities made him a rare and valuable asset. While South Africa’s renowned front-row depth will help mitigate his absence at international level, the void left by his experience and consistency will be challenging to fill.

For the Stormers, losing a player of Kitshoff’s calibre and status is a substantial blow. As the talisman who led them to their first major trophy in the professional era, his influence extended far beyond his on-field contributions. His retirement marks the end of an era for the Cape Town franchise and leaves a leadership vacuum in their pack.

John Dobson perhaps best summed up Kitshoff’s legacy: “He started out as a prodigy and proved himself against the best in the world. He will be remembered as a fantastic rugby player and a credit to his family. Playing for the Springboks and the DHL Stormers meant a lot to him and that passion and love was given back to him by the fans.”

While his playing days may have come to a premature end, Steven Kitshoff’s influence on South African rugby will endure for years to come. From his early days as a prodigious talent to his final act as a world champion, the man known as “Big Red” leaves behind a legacy defined by excellence, determination, and above all, a genuine love for the game.

After seven years coaching abroad, former Springbok lock Johan Ackermann is set to make a triumphant return to South Africa as a coaching consultant for the Junior Springboks. The 54-year-old Ackermann brings a wealth of experience to the role, having spent the past four years coaching in Japan with the Red Hurricanes and Urayasu D-Rocks, following a three-season stint with Gloucester in England.

Ackermann’s last coaching position in South Africa was with the Emirates Lions from 2013 to 2018, during which time he led the Johannesburg-based franchise to three consecutive Vodacom Super Rugby finals. The three-time SA Rugby Coach of the Year winner also served as head coach of the SA ‘A’ team in 2016 against the England Saxons and in 2017 against the French Barbarians. As a player, Ackermann earned 13 Test caps for the Springboks between 1996 and 2007.

Dave Wessels, General Manager of SA Rugby’s High-Performance Department, praised Ackermann’s return, stating, “To have someone with Johan’s experience return home and join the Junior Boks is fantastic for South African rugby, and he’ll be a great mentor to both our staff and players. Following our review of the SA U20 campaign earlier this year, we identified certain areas for improvement, and bringing in Johan is one of the many ways we aim to address these. The goal of our junior programme is to develop players who can one day go on to become champion Springboks.”

STELLENBOSCH, SOUTH AFRICA – 4 JULY: Alvaro Garcia Iandolino of Argentina u/20 (R) tackles Tiaan Jacobs of Junior Springboks (C) during the match between South Africa and Argentina on 4 July, 2024 during match day two of the U20 Championship held at Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch, South Africa. (Photo by Nic Bothma/World Rugby)

Ackermann is set to join the Junior Springbok coaching team in January, working alongside head coach Kevin Foote and assistants Lumumba Currie and Melusi Mthethwa. He will remain with the team through to the conclusion of the 2025 World Rugby U20 Championship. Currently, Foote, Currie, and Mthethwa are in camp with the SA U19 Academy squad, preparing players who are all eligible for Junior Springbok selection next year.

The addition of Ackermann to the coaching staff is expected to significantly boost the Junior Springboks’ performance, particularly in areas such as lineouts and driving mauls, which were identified as areas of concern during the recent U20 World Championship in Cape Town. With his extensive experience and proven track record, Ackermann is poised to play a crucial role in developing the next generation of South African rugby talent and guiding them towards becoming future Springboks.