Springbok Women coach De Bruin rejects money dispute claim after resigning

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Swys de Bruin has denied that he quit as the South Africa Women’s rugby coach this week over money.

He said the resignation was planned and was supposed to be held back from being announced until after the women’s historic first home match against New Zealand on Saturday in the curtainraiser to the men’s test between the same countries at FNB Stadium.

“I submitted my resignation a long time ago,” De Bruin told Netwerk24, the Afrikaans-language digital hub, on Friday.

“There’s really nothing funny about it, I’m just moving on. For me it’s a new season. It’s not a case of me having a psychological setback or there was a dispute about money.”

De Bruin was reported on Thursday to have resigned in a dispute over bonuses with South Africa Rugby.

He took charge of the Springbok Women in 2024 and led them to their first quarterfinals at the Women’s Rugby World Cup last September in England. He was expected to stay in charge to the 2029 World Cup in Australia.

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