Swys de Bruin Confirmed to Join Paarl Boys High as Coach Developer After Bok Women Exit
- Swys de Bruin confirmed to Die Papier that he will join Paarl Boys High to train coaches and assist with rugby structures
- De Bruin resigned from the Springbok Women role amid what he described as persistent interference with his coaching decisions and team selections
- The appointment comes as Boishaai navigates significant change, with both its Director of Rugby and head coach having recently departed
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Swys de Bruin has confirmed he is set to join Paarl Boys High School, known as Boishaai, in a coaching development role, marking a significant new chapter for one of South African rugby's most decorated tactical minds.
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Speaking to Die Papier, De Bruin said that while final confirmation is still pending, he will focus on training coaches at the school and supporting its broader rugby structures. His stated ambition extends well beyond the rugby field.
"I don't just want to develop rugby players, I want to develop people who can be role models with self-respect and who treat their fellow man with the necessary respect," De Bruin told the publication.
De Bruin's coaching record
De Bruin's appointment carries considerable weight. He guided the Lions to the Currie Cup in 2015, reached multiple Super Rugby finals with a Johannesburg franchise, and served as attack coach within Rassie Erasmus's Springbok setup. Most recently, he led the Springbok Women to their first-ever Rugby World Cup quarter-final appearance in 2025, a result that lifted South Africa into the global top ten for the first time.
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He resigned from the Springbok Women role citing sustained interference in his coaching decisions, including team selections.
"When it comes to the game and coaching, it's difficult when people constantly interfere with things I must change, also with team selections. It reached a point where it just became too much, and unfortunately that's what happened here," he said.
De Bruin denies money was behind his resignation
De Bruin was direct in dismissing reports that his departure was financially motivated.
"The claims that I resigned because of money and bonuses are a lie. I was consistently satisfied with my salary and compensation. It makes me furious when people don't get their facts straight," he stated.
He also addressed comparisons drawn to his exit from the senior Springbok setup ahead of the 2019 Rugby World Cup, clarifying that his withdrawal at the time was due to a serious medical situation.
"I left the Springbok camp for medical reasons and due to an advanced case of total burnout, which is worlds apart from my reasons for last week's resignation," De Bruin said.
His arrival at Boishaai comes at a transitional moment for the school. His son Niel, who previously served as Director of Rugby, has since moved to the Bulls, and long-serving head coach Sean Erasmus recently left to join Maties.
De Bruin's philosophy centres on relationships as much as results.
"To always be able to say that we have a happy and satisfied group, that's why personal relationships are such an important factor," he noted.
Swys De Bruin’s Springbok Women legacy recognised
Briefly News also reported that Swys de Bruin was among the nominees for the 2025 SA Rugby Awards after guiding the Springbok Women through a historic campaign.
De Bruin earned recognition in the Coach of the Year category after the team reached the Women’s Rugby World Cup quarter-finals for the first time.
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Source: Briefly News
