Rugby Transfers: South African coach ends exit speculation, Welsh international reunites with Wayne Pivac and ex-England man to join PREM staff
Corniel van Zyl (right) and Rhys Patchell (left) feature in our coaches edition of rugby transfers.
Our latest transfers news and rumours update focuses on the coaches, concerning the likes of Cardiff, a Wales great and an ex-England international’s move to a PREM Rugby club.
Check out our coaches’ edition of the Rugby transfer news and rumours update:
Corniel van Zyl re-signs with Cardiff
Cardiff head coach Corniel van Zyl has put pen to paper on a new deal with the Welsh side, amid speculation over his future in the Capital.
Despite taking the reins at the start of the season following Matt Sherratt’s appointment on Steve Tandy’s coaching ticket with Wales, van Zyl had been linked with a move away from Cardiff at the end of the season.
However, he has now put that speculation to bed after signing a long-term deal with Cardiff.
“It is such an honour and privilege to take the lead at Cardiff as we enter our 150th season,” he said. “It is a club full of history and with a very exciting future ahead.
“I am very thankful for the opportunity and challenge that lies ahead and grateful to Jamie and the board for their backing.
“On a personal level, I absolutely love the club. It is an environment with so many people – staff, players, sponsors and supporters – that care deeply about the badge. That is my motivation to keep driving us forward.
“My family are very settled here in Cardiff. It is a family-focused club within an amazing city and country. We are very pleased to be staying long-term with this opportunity and are excited by the future at the Arms Park.”
Also commenting, Cardiff managing director, Jamie Muir, added: “We are really pleased to formally appoint Corniel as our new head coach on a long-term basis.
“We have built a strong working relationship this season and I have seen at first-hand the standards he brings and drives every day.
“It is a significant appointment for the club and one that has the full backing of myself and the board. We believe Corniel is the right person to lead our rugby programme and to continue strengthening every aspect of our high-performance environment.
“We are excited about the direction we are heading and are confident that with the guidance and leadership from Corniel and his staff, we can continue building a squad and culture our supporters can be proud of.
“This appointment is about long-term progress, stability and ambition, and we are looking forward to what comes next, both in the remainder of this season – with plenty to play for – and beyond.”
Cardiff currently sit sixth in the URC table at the time of writing, the highest position of the four Welsh sides, and they also reached the Challenge Cup last-16 before being knocked out by Benetton.
Rhys Patchell joins Benetton staff
Former Wales international Rhys Patchell will reunite with Wayne Pivac next season, after signing on as the Italian club’s attack coach for next season.
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Patchell has already gained valuable coaching experience following his retirement last year after spells with the Dragons and Wales, but he will now take his services to Italy for the next two years.
His contract also has an option to extend for a further two years, which would keep him in Treviso until 2030.
Commenting on joining Benetton, the former fly-half said: “I am delighted to join Benetton Rugby for the coming seasons. It is an exciting opportunity to join a team with a roster full of high-calibre players.
“I would like to thank President Antonio Pavanello and Coach Wayne Pivac for the opportunity to contribute to the glorious history of this great Club. I can’t wait to arrive in Treviso and start building relationships with the staff and players, to develop a game that excites our players, our fans and the entire city.
“For now, my focus is on finishing the season on a high with Dragons RFC.”
Incoming head coach Pivac added: “I’m really happy to be reunited with Rhys after coaching him at Scarlets and the Welsh national team. The last time we worked together was in Japan, where Rhys was a player-coach, taking charge of the attack and mentoring the young players.
“He had an extraordinary playing career, leading the attack in the number 10 shirt. We have the same vision of the game. We want to play a style that excites both the players and the fans.”
Also commenting, Benetton president Antonio Pavanello added: “Wayne has made us some very specific requests, few but very specific. Among these is the choice of Patchell, which we have carefully evaluated and deemed appropriate, convinced that he is the best fit for our path.
“We are certain that he will be able to make a significant contribution to the team’s growth and that his work will translate into concrete results on the field.”
Elsewhere, Pete Wilkins will shift over to defence coach for next season, while Salvatore Costanzo and Dewald Senekal retain their respective scrum and lineout coaching roles as well.
Joel Tomkins lined up for PREM coaching move
Former England and Saracens man Joel Tomkins looks set to take up a coaching gig in the PREM, according to Love Rugby League.
Tomkins had served as head coach of Super League side Catalans Dragons for the past year, but left the French side last week for personal reasons.
However, it seems he is now set to return to England, and more specifically, rugby union as he continues his coaching career.
While Tomkins’ landing spot is yet to be confirmed, it is understood that he is highly thought of in both codes and would certainly attract plenty of attention for next season.
Gloucester and Sale are both in the market for new coaches, with the Cherry and Whites undergoing a full restructure of their programme, while the Sharks have also seen both Marco Bortolami and Byron McGuigan leave the club this season.
Elsewhere, Harlequins could also be a possible option, with the Londoners recently undergoing a full-scale coaching change as well.
Tomkins would also join a growing list of Super League coaches to come to the PREM, with Lee Radford, Kevin Sinfield, Jamie Langley and Paul Deacon all spending time in the English top flight in recent years, with Radford and Sinfield helping their sides win the title as well.
The cross-coder spent three years at Saracens and later went onto win three Test caps for England, before returning to rugby league with Wigan Warriors.
