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Junior Boks Get Coaching Support

SA Rugby confirmed on Friday that former Springbok lock Barend Pieterse had been appointed as a lineout and breakdown consultant to the Junior Springbok team for three years.

The 46-year-old Pieterse, who appeared for the Lions, Cheetahs and Eastern Province in his playing days, fills the role previously taken by Johann Ackermann and will provide support to Junior Bok forwards coach Lumumba Currie in his role.

Pieterse played one match for the Springboks, against the Barbarians in 2007. He joins from the Lions where he was employed as a forwards coach. In 2023, he travelled with Namibia to the Rugby World Cup in France as an assistant coach.

“Barend comes highly-rated as well as having previously worked with many of the staff in the Junior Springbok system, so there is a natural ‘fit’,” said Dave Wessels, General Manager, High Performance at SA Rugby.

“Ackers (Johan Ackermann) provided valuable expertise in 2025 and we’re sure that Barend will provide the same in 2026.”

Pieterse will join the Junior Boks training squad in camp in Stellenbosch in the new year as they begin their campaign year.

The squad travels to snowy Georgia in February for a series of matches before SANZAAR’s Under-20 Rugby Championship in Gqeberha in April and May.

The team will defend their World Rugby Under-20 Championship title back in Georgia in June and July.

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