Kings backline coach Mzwandile Stick is tipped to become one of new Springbok coach Allister Coetzee's assistants.

Coetzee's coaching team is set to be finalised soon, and top of SA Rugby's agenda is a black African assistant coach.

Stick, who played for the Blitzboks and as a fullback and wing in the 15-man game, retired in 2013. He was an assistant coach with the EP U21 side before becoming head coach of the U19 team, taking them to the provincial title last year. That saw the 31-year-old promoted to the Kings Super Rugby management team.

'[Appointing more black African coaches is] one of the imperatives that we will make sure happens,' said SA Rugby president Oregan Hoskins. 'There is a massive dearth [of them], so we have to fast-track people, we have to hold people by the hand and ensure that it happens.

'I heard somebody coin a term in the last few days, “transformation on merit”, something like that. So, while we are appointing black people to the top echelons of the management of the game, I’m really confident that the black African person that we appoint would be up to it. The CEO [Jurie Roux] has had a very good meeting with the prospective coach and it seems like that augurs well.'

Johann van Graan, who is still employed by SA Rugby, is expected to continue his role as Bok forwards coach.

Coetzee appointment gets green light

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