American Major League Rugby side the Houston SaberCats have announced that former Bok coach Heyneke Meyer will become their new director of rugby.

“This is a very important time for the SaberCats organization. I am fully committed to turning this team into one that wins on a regular basis and brings a championship to all the dedicated fans of Houston,” said Meyer. “The SaberCats have the best facilities in the country, and I am excited to get to work.”

While at the helm of the Springboks, Meyer led the national team to a third-place finish at the World Cup in 2015 while, most recently, Meyer was the head coach of Stade Francais.

“Heyneke has a pattern of winning, and that’s what we want with the SaberCats,” said JT Onyett, SaberCats president. “The interest in this job was very strong, but Heyneke stood out from the beginning. Not only does he bring instant credibility with his background, he presented a clear path for the future.”

As director of rugby, Meyer will be responsible for all rugby-related activities including the Rugby HTX developmental squad, the SaberCats U18 team and all academy outreach. He is working with the SaberCats management to build a coaching staff aimed at elevating the team to the top of the standings.

“Our goals are simple – win the MLR while also developing American talent through our HTX and academy sides,” says Meyer. “With resources like AVEVA Stadium, there is no reason we can’t accomplish both goals.”