The coaching team that will work alongside Stormers head coach John Dobson in the 2020 Vodacom Super Rugby season has been confirmed.

Experienced team manager Chippie Solomon, strength and conditioning coach Riefaat Jappie, defence coach Norman Laker and backs coach Dawie Snyman will continue in their current roles, having all worked with Dobson during the Currie Cup.

Meanwhile, forwards coach Rito Hlungwani and skills coach and technical analyst Labeeb Levy are the new additions to the coaching team.

Scrum consultant Hanyani Shimange and kicking coach Gareth Wright will work across all of WP Rugby’s professional teams and provide support to the Stormers coaching team as part of their roles.

Levy has been involved with Western Province Rugby for 12 years in various roles including coaching education and analysis, while Hlungwani has come through every level of the game, starting out as a player and working in club and university rugby before graduating to the professional structures.

Every single one of these coaches has extensive experience in the Western Province Rugby system. Levy, Hlungwani, Shimange and Wright all represented Western Province as players, while every coach has worked at club level locally and worked their way up through the various WP Rugby structures.

Dobson says he and his coaches are excited about the challenges that lie ahead in the 2020 Super Rugby campaign.

‘Our whole coaching team have come through the system here at Western Province Rugby and every one of them understands that the Stormers is more than just a rugby team,’ Dobson said.

‘The hard work for the 2020 season has already started and we are excited about the potential that we have as a group of coaches working with a world-class squad.’

Stormers coaching staff for 2020

Head coach: John Dobson
Team manager: Chippie Solomon
Defence coach: Norman Laker
Backs coach: Dawie Snyman
Forwards coach: Rito Hlungwani
Strength and conditioning: Riefaat Jappie
Technical Analyst: Labeeb Levy

Scrum consultant: Hanyani Shimange
Kicking coach: Gareth Wright.

Photo: Chris Ricco/BackpagePix