BOLAND COACH ISSUED 5-WORDS STATEMENT ON HIS DEPARTURE IMMEDIATELY AFTER.......

Coach Hawies Fourie received an offer from Boland Rugby and decided to accept the new position.

The Free State Cheetahs is known for providing opportunities for players and coaches and are content to shake hands and allow Coach Hawies the chance by releasing him from his contract.

Coach Hawies is originally from Boland, where his family resides, and he has a house.

We want to thank Coach Hawies for his incredible contribution, which he made by getting the Toyota Cheetahs twice in the Round of 16 and winning the Currie Cup in 2023.

Boland Rugby Pty Ltd Announces Homecoming of Hawies Fourie as Head Coach for Sanlam Boland Cavaliers Wellington, South Africa – The professional arm of Boland Rugby is delighted to announce the appointment of Hawies Fourie as the new head coach for the Sanlam Boland Cavaliers, effective 01 March 2024. A true son and product of Boland Rugby, Fourie’s illustrious career spans both playing and coaching roles, creating a legacy deeply rooted in the region.

Quintin van Rooyen, CEO of Boland Rugby, welcomed Fourie with enthusiasm, saying, “Hawies Fourie’s extensive experience and deep connection to Boland Rugby make him the perfect fit for the head coach role. We are excited about the future under his guidance and look forward to seeing rugby in the Boland celebrated as one of the doyens of South African rugby once again.”

Alongside Fourie, four assistant coaches have been confirmed including Alshaun Bock (backline and defence), Mornay Kurtz (forwards), Jacquin Jansen (kicking), and Iver Aanhuizen (Strength & Conditioning). The development and transformation of coaches from within the Boland structures is significant to the union, these appointments reflect that.

An excited Fourie stated: “It is special to come back to the very union where it all started for me, as a coach. Speaking about his medium and long-term plans, Fourie said: “There is no reason why we cannot get back in the top six teams in the country, and that will be my aim when I get back in Wellington.”

Fourie played for Boland during the 1994 and 1995 seasons and also helped Ceres win the Boland Super League in 1997 and represented the union at the National Club Championship. He played club rugby in Stellenbosch, Malmesbury, and Ceres.

He coached Ceres until 2002 before being appointed as Boland’s provincial side’s head coach until 2005. He joined the DHL Stormers as the backline coach for a short period during the 2005 season and when Rudy Joubert was appointed as director of rugby at Boland, Fourie joined Joubert’s staff as the backline coach.

In 2007, Fourie was appointed as the Free State Cheetahs’ backline coach for the Currie Cup and Super Rugby sides. A role he would occupy for seven seasons before accepting the Griquas’ head coaching role and winning the Currie Cup competition as an assistant in 2007.

Fourie returned to the Western Cape as the head coach for Maties in the Varsity Cup a role which saw him win the coveted Varsity Cup for the Stellenbosch side, a record fourth and fifth win in 2018 and 2019, respectively. He returned as the head coach to the Free State at the end of the 2019 season. During this time, the Bloemfontein outfit won the Currie Cup Premier Division in 2023.

Reflecting on his time at the Cheetahs, Fourie said: “I am thankful to the Cheetahs, I have coached there for 13 years, nine of which was with Naka Drotské and four as the head coach.”