Mongalo set to join Bulls staff

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Joey Mongalo is set to leave the Lions to join Vodacom Bulls director of rugby Jake White’s staff as the new defence coach. DYLAN JACK reports.

SARugbymag.co.za has reliably learned that Mongalo will be announced as the Bulls’ new defence coach as White continues his shake-up of their coaching staff.

Mongalo was schooled at Pretoria Boys’ High where he played for their 1st XV and notably helped them to beat rivals Affies in 2003 – so his return is a kind of homecoming. He has also played for the Blue Bulls U20, U21 and Vodacom Cup teams as well as the Junior Springboks, Emerging Springboks and UP-Tuks.

The 35-year-old was a key part of the Lions set-up under Johan Ackermann, and then Swys de Bruin, as he oversaw the team’s defensive structures. He was also highly successful as head coach of the Lions U19 team in 2016 and 2017.

Since being left out of the senior coaching staff, Mongalo has continued to consult the University of Witwatersrand’s Varsity Cup side and has been coaching attack with the Lions’ Rugby Challenge and U21 teams. He also last year earned his honours degree in Industrial and Organisational Psychology from the University of Johannesburg.

White has already brought in former Stormers assistant coach Russell Winter as the Bulls’ new forwards coach. The rest of the Bulls coaching staff will be announced live at 8am on Wednesday.

Photo: Lee Warren/Gallo Images

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