Zangqa and Malinga Appointed as SA Schools and U18 Coaches in Exciting New Era for Youth Rugby

South African rugby has taken another confident step toward the future with the appointment of new coaching teams for the SA Schools and SA U18 squads. In a move focused on continuity, development, and high-performance alignment, Lwazi Zangqa (Border) has been named head coach of the SA Schools team, while Flash Malinga (KwaZulu-Natal) takes the reins of the SA Schools ‘A’ side.

Zangqa will be supported by Cobus van Dyk from the Blue Bulls, while Malinga is joined by Clinton van Rensburg from Western Province—both bringing strong youth rugby credentials to the national structures.

SA Rugby made the announcement this week, highlighting their ongoing commitment to coach development, player progression, and long-term succession planning across all junior structures.

All four coaches are World Rugby Level 3 certified and deeply involved in SA Rugby’s Elite Player Development (EPD) Programme, a system credited with producing some of the country’s top young talent—and now, top coaches too.

A Strategic Vision for Youth Rugby

SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer praised the appointments, saying:

“These coaches represent the best of our youth development structures. Their passion and dedication will help shape the next generation of Springboks.”

The integration of senior junior coaches like Kevin Foote (Junior Boks head coach), Lumumba Currie, and Melusi Mthethwa into the Schools and U18 systems ensures that players and coaches are part of a nationally aligned pipeline—a strategy aimed at smoother transitions and long-term success.

Foote added:

“We’re not just building teams, we’re building a system. These appointments ensure that our junior structures are integrated into the national high-performance plan.”

Recent coaching alumni from the EPD programme—such as James Winstanley, Phiwe Nomlomo, Wessel du Plessis, and Mzwakhe Nkosi—are already making waves at senior provincial level, proving the effectiveness of the pathway.

What’s Next?

The SA Schools and SA Schools ‘A’ teams will face off in their traditional clash on Thursday, 17 July 2025, at HTS Middelburg (kick-off at 15h00), following the FNB U18 Craven Week scheduled for 6–12 July 2025 at Hoërskool Middelburg.

Details around other SA U18 fixtures will be announced soon.