The Border Bulldogs' hopes of reviving their fortunes took an upward turn Thursday with the news chief coach Kobus van der Merwe will not be linking up with the Sharks for their 2002 Super 12 rugby campaign.

In addition, the services of assistant coach Andre Human, who coached in Ireland before returning for the Currie Cup, have been retained.

Last year Van der Merwe was assistant to Sharks coach Rudolf Straeuli for the Super 12 which meant he only linked up with the Bulldogs for this year's Currie Cup.

As a result, he was not able to guide the Bulldogs - who included a number of new signings - through the Vodacom Cup and so be better able to assess form, ability and combinations ahead of the Currie Cup.

In Van der Merwe's absence, Dumisani Mhani and Bruce Butler were appointed stand-in coaches in the Vodacom Cup, returning a record of having won five, lost five and drawing one.

The Currie Cup proved something of a disaster, for although the Bulldogs reached the semi-finals in the subsidiary competition after failing to reach the Top Eight, they were only able to beat the North West Leopards.

Wednesday, Van der Merwe said he respected the board's decision, adding he was excited ahead of next year's prospects. "We have spent a lot of money on players and have put together an excellent management team I know I can rely on."

Apart from Van der Merwe and Human, physiotherapist Cassie van der Merwe and team manager David Ruiters have been retained.

The team is strengthened by the appointment of David Dobela as second assistant coach, David Maidza as technical adviser with Kyron Nina taking on the new appointment as biokineticist.

An East Londoner, Nina studied at UPE where he obtained his Masters degree. Maidza (pictured), for many seasons a favourite among Border rugby supporters, retired at the end of this season while Dobela successfully coached the Border under-21 XV to B-section championship status.

He is especially seen to have been given an all-important role where his feedback on match analysis and individual data should prove invaluable as the Bulldogs seek the winning trail.

Van der Merwe said the Bulldogs would be given a break starting Friday and reconvene again January 15. "All the players have been provided with fitness programmes to work to during their break and will be assessed on their return.

"There will be terrific competition for team places this season, so to be in with a chance, each player will have to meet the criteria. There will be no exceptions," he said.

Van der Merwe intimated he would be staging a series of pre-season trials plus a training camp over four days at a venue still to be decided. - Sapa