Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool (Affies) opted for a blend of proven institutional continuity and internal promotion to steer the Wit Bulle into a new era, following the high-profile departure of former Head of Rugby and 1st XV head coach Ruan Jacobs to the Hollywoodbets Sharks.
Current Head of Sport, Ryno van der Merwe, has been appointed as the school’s Head of Rugby for the 2027 season. This marks a return to a familiar portfolio for Van der Merwe, who successfully held the Head of Rugby mantle prior to Ruan Jacobs' appointment. The decision follows an exhaustive recruitment process.
Van der Merwe will retain his responsibilities as Head of Sport. While he will step away from his hands-on coaching duties with the under-15A and B teams to manage his administrative portfolio, he will remain directly involved on the training field as part of the 1st XV Witbulle coaching setup.
In a move that guarantees seamless continuity, Jaco Koch has been named the Head Coach of the 1st (Witbulle) and 2nd XV rugby teams. Koch is a stalwart of the Affies rugby ecosystem, having been deeply embedded within the school's structures and the first team setup since 2010. His extensive experience, knowledge, and proven leadership qualities made him the natural choice to take over the primary coaching responsibilities.
Rounding out the senior coaching tier is Hanco Deale, who has been appointed as the 1st XV backline coach for 2027. Deale is a true product of Affies, having matriculated from Affies in 2011 after representing the prestigious Witbulle in 20 matches during his schoolboy career. He returned to his alma mater in 2016 as a Mathematics teacher and has spent the last decade coaching various A-teams through the age groups, making him highly qualified for the step up to the flagship team.