Former Springbok Sevens captain Mpho Mbiyozo will assist coach Stanley Raubenheimer at the new Boland rugby institute.

Apart from Mbiyozo, who captained South Africa at the Sevens World Cup in 2009, Raubenheimer will be assisted by Andras Molnar, while Barry McDonald will serve as the institute’s manager, with Alan Zondagh as the performance director.

The new rugby academy aims to give more black players the opportunity to develop their talents and will be operated by a non-profit company, Transforming Rugby NPC, in association with the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport (SAS).

'The decision by SAS to fund an institute in the Boland was timeous and will allow the continuation of the good work that was done by the SA rugby academy in a new guise,' Saru CEO Jurie Roux said.

'Saru will be supporting a number of players at the new Boland rugby institute, under our new funding model, as well as at other provinces. I am sure that the new institute will make an important contribution to rugby transformation.'

The new academy has an intake of 29 U20 players for 2016, 23 of whom are black players.

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