“We feel very fortunate to have a staff member within our current system that is good enough to take over the reins. After a very successful rebuild of our program during 2019, it was important for us to ensure that our squad is not exposed to another rebuild with more changes in 2020.” said Tafel Lager Griquas CEO Arni van Rooyen.

The Tafel Lager Griquas President, Mr Jannie Louw, said that Scott was intimately involved in the successful 2019 season, is familiar with the foundation laid and all the systems that are currently in place.

“Scott has a very good understanding of the environment, has already built up relationships with all management members and players that will allow for continuity leading into next season, which we felt was important to ensure that the positive momentum made can be built upon.” said Louw.

“I feel honoured and privileged to be entrusted with this responsibility. I am very thankful to Griquas for showing faith in my abilities to continue with the program. I want to thank Brent for all his hard work and efforts he put into this season, which allows us to build on the great foundation laid this year. Focusing on consistent improvement will be a fundamental aspect for me, which we will adopt daily leading into 2020.”

The Tafel Lager Griquas squad in 2020 will boast a lot of continuity that will also boast the signing of additional players who will further strengthen our squad. All other current staff members will remain in their various roles leading into 2020. This will result in a large amount of continuity amongst players and management members.

The knowledge that Scott has accrued from a 12 year professional rugby career and the lessons he learnt from coaching at all levels helped him develop into a deserved recipient of the Tafel Lager Griquas Head Coach role.

After leaving school Scott represented Tuks 1 where they won the Clubs Champs in 2003, and he also represented the SA u19 team that achieved 3rd place at the World cup.

He gathered a wealth of knowledge having previously played professional rugby for the Sharks and Bulls at Super rugby and Currie Cup level respectively, whereafter he represented Sale Sharks and Leeds Carnegie in the English Premiership, during which time he also obtained a BA in English and History, before ending his career at the EP Kings.

Scott spent his playing career under the supervision of many elite coaches including ex-Springbok coaches Heyneke Meyer and Dick Muir as well as current Hurricanes Head Coach John Plumtree and ex England international Neil Back. Under Alan Solomons, the current Director of Rugby at Worcester Warriors is where he spent his last two seasons back in South Africa at the EP Kings.

Scott soon thereafter felt his way into a career within coaching, previously assisting Janse van Rensburg at Varsity Cup level and at Grey High School. Thereafter, Scott joined the traditional boys’ school and alma mater, the Durban High School. Appointed as the Director of Rugby and 1st XV Head Coach, Scott oversaw a period of rapid transformation at the school seeing DHS consistently in the top 20 rugby schools during his time at DHS. Scott was also the Head coach the Sharks U16 Grant Khomo, U18 Academy Week and U17 Seven’s teams.

To add to his repertoire, he spent his evenings as assistant coach of the Durban Collegians, where he was able to develop his attack and backline repertoire with the club.

Scott was reacquainted with our outgoing Head Coach, Brent Janse Van Rensburg, when the Tafel Lager Griquas appointed him as the Assistance coach at the start of 2019. Responsible for the Attack and Backline play of the team, his growth under Van Rensburg has been immense, as our team went on to win the SuperSport Challenge Cup and qualify for the Semi-Finals of the Premier Division Currie Cup for the first time in 21 years.

There is no doubt Scott will look to build on the platform that has been laid in the Diamond City and with the sweat and grind of rebuilding a program with just a two-man coaching staff in 2019, he will have an inside knowledge of what it takes to ensure the continuity and success of the rugby program at Tafel Lager Park continues into 2020.