Springbok Women: Who could succeed De Bruin as WXV Global Series looms

· The South African

What’s next for the Springbok Women after the sudden resignation of Swys de Bruin?

Two weeks on, South Africa Rugby does not seem in a rush to name a permanent replacement.

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Instead, the team seems set to continue under interim coaches Laurian Johannes-Haupt and Franzel September.

With the WXV Global Series starting next week, this could be the biggest test of their coaching careers.

The broader coaching picture

SA Rugby has not made any statement since confirming de Bruin’s departure on 3 September.

That same statement confirmed that Johannes-Haupt and September would be acting co-coaches.

“No further comment will be made in the short-term, to allow the team to focus on their match with New Zealand’s Black Ferns,” the union was quoted by News24.

However, that match has come and gone: a 52-20 loss in Soweto on 5 September.

No timeline for a permanent appointment has been confirmed at this stage.

The situation is a stark contrast to when the union parted ways with Stanley Raubenheimer in 2022.

SA Rugby appointed Louis Koen on an interim basis early the following year.

Despite Koen being framed as a leading candidate, the union advertised the post and ultimately went with de Bruin.

This could suggest that SA Rugby may not consider Johannes-Haupt and September as true interim coaches.

They were with the Springbok Women during an unbeaten 2026 Rugby Africa Women’s Cup run in May, and their Test series win against Fiji in August.

Being handed the reins for the Black Ferns Test and the WXV opener may suggest a degree of confidence in the co-coaches.

However, this could also simply be the union choosing to focus on results over personnel.

Springbok Women set for international action

The bottom line is that Johannes-Haupt and September have time to prove they are deserving of permanent appointments.

Upcoming WXV fixtures will also be a serious test of the Springbok Women’s mettle:

18 September

Vs Wales at Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff (20:15 South African time)

26 September

Vs Italy at Stadio Omero Tognon, Pordenone (14:30 South African time)

4 October

Vs Spain at Estadio Olimpico de la Cartuja, Seville (12:00 South African time)

24 October

Vs Ireland at Athlone Sports Stadium, Cape Town (15:00 South African time)

31 October

Vs Ireland at Athlone Sports Stadium, Cape Town (15:00 South African time)

Details correct according to the WXV Global Series website.

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