Lance Sendin and Wessel du Plessis will take over the reigns as SA Schools and SA Schools A coaches for the 2020 edition of the U18 International Series, which will again be hosted in the Western Cape in August.

Sendin, from Hugenote in Wellington, is no stranger to the role as SA Schools coach after having steered the team in 2016 and 2017, while Du Plessis, from Grey College in Bloemfontein, is promoted from SA Schools A assistant coach to the head coaching role this year.

They take over from former SA Schools coach Mzwakhe Nkosi, who is the Xerox Golden Lions Under-21 coach and SuperSport Rugby Challenge assistant coach, and SA Schools A coach, Phiwe Nomlomo, who now works with the Cell C Sharks teams as a skills specialist.

Sendin will be assisted by Cobus van Dyk (Waterkloof in Pretoria), who retains his place in the management team from last season, while Katleho Lynch from St Johns College takes over as SA Schools A team assistant coach.

The SA Schools and SA Schools A teams will play three rounds of matches in the U18 International Series on 7, 11 and 15 August respectively. England, Argentina and France have already confirmed their participation in the series and the fixtures will be finalised in due course.

“The SA Schools and SA Schools A teams play a vital role in our development structures, as it is often the first taste of international rugby our players are exposed to, and it is pleasing to be able to appoint coaches of Lance and Wessel’s caliber,” said SA Rugby CEO Jurie Roux.

“They are both familiar with the competition having served in the coaching structures before and they know what standards are required to be successful, so we are expecting another top-class event this season.”

SA Schools management team:

Head Coach: Lance Sendin 

Assistant Coach: Cobus van Dyk 

Team manager: Dean Moodley 

Strength and conditioning coach: Sisonke Makapela

Team Doctor: Dr Janesh Ghanda

Physiotherapist: Wernich Smit

SA Schools A management team:                

Head Coach: Wessel du Plessis 

Assistant Coach: Katleho Lynch 

Team manager: Jimmy Jimlongo

Strength and conditioning coach: Yaw Fosu-Amoah

Team Doctor: Dr Janesh Ghanda

Physiotherapist: Ken Kabongo