Photo by Jorina Raath/Speedshots.co.za
In a surprise announcement, the Blue Bulls confirmed the appointment of yet another top schoolboy rugby coach when they announced Jaco Koch as the assistant forward coach of their u/21 Currie Cup squad. Jaco is the former Affies and Blue Bulls u/18 Craven Week head coach. Jaco will only join the Bulls for the period of the u/21 Currie Cup and afterwards return to Affies.
A Bulls media release read - "One of White's mandates is to align the region's rugby structures from schools through to clubs and up to Vodacom Super Rugby by ensuring that the same blueprint is followed and the appointment of former Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool and Blue Bulls Craven Week coach, Jaco Koch, as assistant forward coach is another step into making this a reality."
Jaco Koch was appointed as 1stXV coach at Affies in 2015 and as the head of Affies Rugby in September 2016. He was replaced as head of rugby at Affies at the end of 2019 by mr Ryno vd Merwe but remained the coach of the 1stXV.
Jaco Koch matriculated in 2002 at Hoërskool Upington where he the 1stXV as well as Griquas Craven Week for two years. In 2002 he was 1stVX captain as well as captain of the Griquas Craven Week team.
He studied Human Movement Science and Physiology at NWU while also playing rugby. He since completed his honours degree in Biokinetics and masters degree in Human Movement Science.
While at NWU he represented the university and Leopards as a loosehead prop and captain during his u/19, u/20 and u/21 years. He also represented the Leopards Amateur team, NWU 1stXV and the SA Student team.
As u/21 player Jaco Koch was the NWU Rugby Institute as well as Leopards rugby player of the year. In 2009 he was also chosen as the NWU Rugby Institute senior rugby player of the year. Jaco represented the NWU 1stXV in more than 100 games including three seasons in the Varsity Cup.
While studying he was appointed as the forwards-coach of Potchefstroom Gymnasium u/14 A & B and u/15 A & B teams. He also was head coach of the Patria Mens Hostel. While still a player at the Puk Rugby Institute he was also appointed as the head Biokineticist.
After a serious injury halted Jaco's rugby dreams he was appointed as Biokineticist and Conditioning coach at Affies in 2010. Since 2010 he was also appointed as Biokineticist and Conditioning coach at the Blue Bulls Grant Khomo team as well as the u/19 Craven Week team. In 2016 he was appointed as forwards-coach for the Bulls u/19 Academy Week team and as head coach for the Bulls Craven Week team in 2018.