Swys de Bruin takes head of coaching role at Paarl Boys' High after SA Rugby split

Swys de Bruin has been confirmed as head of coaching at Paarl Boys’ High School, taking up his first role since leaving the Springbok Women job in September 2025 following a disagreement with SA Rugby.

The 66-year-old steps into a position vacated by his son, Neil de Bruin, who departed Paarl Boys’ in December 2025 to join the Blue Bulls as attack coach in the United Rugby Championship. The Western Cape school simultaneously announced the appointment of George Earle — a former Scarlets, Cardiff and Colomiers lock who joined the first XV coaching staff in 2025 — as the new head coach, taking over from Sean Erasmus, who moved to the University of Stellenbosch’s Maties programme as head coach in August.

De Bruin’s exit from the Springbok Women’s programme came abruptly at the start of September, just ahead of the team’s clash with New Zealand in Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series. He later confirmed that a falling-out with SA Rugby’s administration was the deciding factor in his departure.

During his tenure, De Bruin guided the Springbok Women to their first-ever Rugby World Cup quarter-final and a record-high ranking of 10th in the World Rugby standings — achievements that drew widespread praise even as his exit turned acrimonious.

SA Rugby President Mark Alexander acknowledged De Bruin’s contribution in a statement issued at the time of his departure. “Swys is one of the leading coaches in our country and we wish him well for the future,” Alexander said. “Our team developed a unique style of play and an unpredictability that captured massive attention. Who will forget the 14-player lineout or setting up a maul from a scrum in that quarter-final against the Black Ferns.”

Paarl Boys’ High School is one of South Africa’s most storied rugby nurseries, having produced Springboks including Thomas du Toit, Frans Malherbe and Evan Roos. De Bruin will now be based in the Western Cape as he begins this new chapter.