Veteran rugby administrator Arthob Petersen has been named as the Springbok team manager for the end-of-year tour to the United Kingdom.
Professor Jannie Ferreira, who is the chairperson of the South African Rugby Union committee that was tasked with handling the process of the appointment, said last night that Petersen was appointed as he is “experienced and has done the job before”.
Six people made the shortlist and Petersen is believed to have beaten, among others, former Springbok convenor of selectors Francois Davids and Saru development officer Sas Bailey for the job.
“Arthob Petersen has been appointed as the Springbok team manager,” Ferreira told the Pretoria News.
“But he has only been appointed for this tour. We will get our recruitment process in order next year when we will appoint a full-time team manager. But due to the little time we had, we had to decide quickly on a team manager just for this tour.”
The Springbok team had faced the prospect of touring without a manager after former team manager Andy Marinos,(also the manager of national teams) could not continue as the temporary Bok team manager as he had to step in as acting SA Rugby managing director following the departure of Jonathan Stones.
The Presidents’ Council voted on the issue on Wednesday and the discussed the decision with South African Rugby Union president Oregan Hoskins and Bok coach Peter de Villiers.
“Due to the little time we had, we were looking for an experienced person who had done the job before,” said Ferreira.
“And Arthob has been the team manager before. I spoke to the president and the coach once the votes were in.
“They were both happy for Arthob to be the team manager for the tour.”