Rugby legend Naas Botha will continue to take the reins as director of rugby at Eldoraigne High School in Centurion.
The school announced this news in a post on Facebook.
The appointment is effective immediately and ushers in a new era for the school’s rugby program.
This former Springbok captain, now 65, played in a total of 28 matches as a flyhalf in the green and gold and set several scoring records during his playing days.
Botha and his family, who currently live in Bloemfontein, will soon make the move to Pretoria again.
Eldoraigne High School says Botha’s decision to plow his years of knowledge and experience of rugby into this school makes them ecstatic.
“Botha will create many great and new opportunities for our players and teams and we look forward with great excitement to the difference he will make in our rugby and sport in general.
“This appointment promises to unlock exciting new opportunities for the school’s players and teams, paving the way for an era of excellence led by a true rugby icon,” said the Facebook post.
Botha is just as excited to work with the good coaches from Hoërskool Eldoraigne.
“It’s really just something to look forward to. I think I will be a good addition to Hoërskool Eldoraigne’s team, but I also know that I will learn a lot. You’re never too old to learn, and I want to say to the coaches, you’re never too young to learn either.”
He says he will not coach himself in the first year of his appointment, but will work with the teams. “It is important to me to make sure that the right people are appointed to the right positions. Everyone has their own ambitions and passions.
“My role in the first year will be to pass on the knowledge I have acquired through all these years to the relevant role players, but I am also a person who believes that everyone can make a contribution. I’m not afraid to enlist someone to come and help when help is needed.”
He does not want the spotlight to be on him now. “It’s not about me, I had my time; it is now about the young rugby players who really have a passion for the sport. These children’s careers are still ahead; I want to make sure they get the best opportunities, coaches and support.”
When asked if he feels any tension about the new move, his answer is simple: “If you love something and enjoy it a lot, there is nothing to stress about!”
According to Botha, his family is incredibly excited about the trek.
“If it was up to my family, we would have been there last week,” he laughs.
An impressive CV
Botha was named the South African rugby player of the year four times – 1979, 1981, 1985 and 1987.
In addition to his games for the Boks, Naas played 119 times for the Italian club Rivigo.
However, he really made his mark on the provincial stage.
He played 179 games for Northern Transvaal (Blue Bulls), of which he played 128 times as the captain. Northern Transvaal won the Currie Cup nine times under his leadership.
Botha was also a rugby coach at Tukkies, the team manager of the 2002 Junior Springbok world champions and the head coach of India’s national team.
In addition to his good name as a rugby player, he is also a well-known face on television, where he has been fulfilling the role of rugby analyst and commentator for many years.
