Heyneke Meyer
South Africa
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Full name Heyneke Meyer
Born October 6, 1967, Nelspruit
Current age 56 years 165 days
Major teams Blue Bulls, Bulls, Leicester Tigers, South Africa
Other Coach
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Meyer is the current South Africa coach having assumed the Springboks' hotseat at the start of the 2012.

One of the most successful coaches of the modern era, Meyer was appointed by the South African Rugby Union as a replacement for Peter de Villiers who four-year tenure as Boks boss ended with a quarter-final defeat to Australia at the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

He took on his first provincial head coach position at the SWD Eagles in 1998 at the relatively young age of 30. He immediately took the team to the semi-finals of the Vodacom Cup and a year later he guided the Eagles to a top-four finish in the Currie Cup.

Meyer reached his first final in 2001, leading the Blue Bulls to the Vodacom Cup title, having already served as an assistant to Springbok coach Nick Mallett in 1999. He would return to the international set-up as an assistant to Mallett in 2001 and Harry Viljoen later the same year.

Three consecutive Currie Cup crowns for the Blue Bulls followed in 2002, 2003 and 2004. He also helped turn the Bulls around from Super 12 also-rans to semi-finalists in 2005 and 2006.

The first Super Rugby title for a South African team followed in 2007, when Meyer masterminded the Bulls' victory over The Sharks in an epic final in what had by then become the Super 14.

Meyer was expected by many to succeed Jake White as coach of the Springboks following their World Cup triumph in 2007, but when this job was given to De Villiers, Meyer opted for a high-profile switch to English Premiership side Leicester. Meyer was drafted in by the Tigers as a replacement for former Pumas coach Marcelo Loffreda who lasted just one season at Welford Road. But Meyer's stay would be even shorter than his Argentinean predecessor with the coach heading back to South Africa after just six months on compassionate leave - never to return.

He returned to the Blue Bulls organisation in 2011 and was SARU's unanimous choice to succeed De Villiers following the review into RWC'11.

Latest Articles
Heyneke Meyer steps down as South Africa coach (Dec 3, 2015) Springboks coach Heyneke Meyer 'there to serve' (Oct 24, 2015) You don't have to be 'crazy as hell' to be a Rugby World Cup coach, but ... (Oct 1, 2015) Heyneke Mayer sorry for 'unacceptable' Springboks showing (Aug 8, 2015) Meyer pays tribute to Bakkies Botha (Nov 23, 2014) Heyneke Meyer news and articles (66) »
Latest Photos
Nov 15, 2014
South Africa's Heyneke Meyer stands alongside Pat Lambie
South Africa's Heyneke Meyer stands alongside Pat Lambie
©  Getty Images
Sep 30, 2013
South Africa coach Heyneke Meyer looks on during training
South Africa coach Heyneke Meyer looks on during training
©  Getty Images
Aug 24, 2013
South Africa's Heyneke Meyer breathes a sigh of relief
South Africa's Heyneke Meyer breathes a sigh of relief
©  Getty Images
Jul 4, 2013
Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer lays flower during the launch of the Nelson Mandela Sports Day
Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer lays flower during the launch of the Nelson Mandela Sports Day
©  Getty Images
Heyneke Meyer rugby photos (12) »

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