WP Rugby bids Wessels farewell
Western Province Rugby has wished departing Head of Rugby Dave Wessels all the best as he takes up a new position as General Manager for High Performance Rugby at SA Rugby.
Wessels made a big impact in his role as Head of Rugby over the last two years, setting up key structures that will ensure the future strength of Western Province Rugby.
He also played a significant role in securing the investment of the Red Disa Consortium, the new equity partners that will assume a controlling shareholding of the organisation.
DHL Stormers Head Coach John Dobson will step in to assume Wessels’ responsibilities in the interim, while a new structure is finalised in the coming weeks.
Dobson has been part of the coaching structures at Western Province Rugby since 2010 and has deep institutional knowledge along with an impressive coaching pedigree and track record.
Dobson thanked Wessels for his immense contribution at Western Province Rugby and said that the entire organisation will benefit from the work that he did in the years to come.
“I have worked closely with Dave over the last two years and now it is about taking his work forward, with a number of exciting developments coming soon.
“Everyone at Western Province Rugby will be better off for the work that Dave put into our junior structures and future planning the last two years and he leaves with our best wishes for his new role,” said Dobson.
Dobson said that his new responsibilities will not change his role within the senior teams, but rather see him apply his experience and insights across a wider scope while a new management structure is defined.
“We have a settled coaching unit and that dynamic will not change as we look to build on what we have achieved together over the last few years.
“This is a very exciting time for Western Province Rugby given the investment from the Red Disa Consortium and there will be more changes and additions soon which will see us take further steps towards being a world-class rugby programme,” he added.