Maties pull off major coup in landing ex-Springbok guru Proudfoot as Varsity Cup mentor

Maties' bid to end their Varsity Cup title drought received a major boost on Monday following confirmation that former Springbok assistant coach Matt Proudfoot will be taking the reins as head coach this season.

The 50-year-old former Scotland prop, who won a 2019 World Cup winners medal in Japan, recently left his role as England's scrum guru following the controversial sacking of Eddie Jones less than a year before the 2023 showpiece in France.

Curiously, Maties noted that Proudfoot is a "consultant head coach" for the "duration" of this year's campaign, suggesting that he's still likely keeping his options open.

He is, nonetheless, well versed in the Western Cape's rugby structures having been Allister Coetzee's lieutenant at the Stormers and Western Province for almost eight years.

Proudfoot replaces former Springbok scrumhalf Norman Jordaan, who's been appointed to the WP setup after he was previously roped in several times on a temporary basis last year.

"We are proud of [Norman's] achievements at Maties rugby and honoured that we could be part of his journey," a statement read.

Maties commence their Varsity Cup campaign with a mouthwatering derby fixture against Ikeys in Stellenbosch on February 20.