Vodacom Bulls director of rugby Jake White has officially confirmed his senior coaching staff, with Joey Mongalo appointed as the team’s new defence coach.

It has already been confirmed that White will be heading up the coaching staff as the team’s head coach, taking over from former head coach Pote Human, who has left the Bulls.

As reported by SARugbymag.co.za on Tuesday, Mongalo has moved across to the Bulls from the Lions to serve as the Pretoria team’s defence coach.

ALSO READ: Mongalo set to join Bulls coaching staff

He is no stranger to Loftus Versfeld as he represented the union in the Currie Cup and various junior campaigns, that wielded an SA Rugby U20 Championship title and two SA Rugby U21 Championship titles.

Mongalo served in several roles including defence and attack for the Vodacom Super Rugby, Currie Cup, Provincial Rugby Challenge and junior teams where he assisted in winning silverware, including back-to-back SA Rugby U19 Championship titles.

He was also an assistant coach to the Junior Springboks in 2016, director of coaching at KES in Johannesburg and the defence coach of Wits in the Varsity Cup. He also spent a year as a marketing assistant for the Blue Bulls Company.

Another talking point is the creation of a new dedicated position for a breakdown specialist. This will be filled by Nollis Marais, who previously was the union’s head coach and head of junior rugby.

World Rugby announced a breakdown guideline to assist with the implementation of existing laws revolving around one of the most dynamic facets of the game.

‘Teams have always had consultants or forwards coaches addressing the breakdown as part of their broader roles,’ White said. ‘This will become a key focus area for us going forward, especially with the breakdown laws being changed. It also speaks to the type of rugby we will be looking to play. Nollis has been around the block and knows exactly what we need. I have no doubt that he is the perfect man for this job.’

Russel Winter was officially announced as forwards coach last week, while current backline coach Chris Rossouw continues his work with the backs. Pine Pienaar moves out of his role as defence coach, and into the role of technical advisor, working to ensure unity between the Bulls’ age-grade and senior teams.

White also confirmed that the Bulls had agreed to release Daan Human to the Springboks and that the team was in the process of addressing the need for a new scrum coach.

‘The BBCo will also be looking to announce a new scrum coach in the near future, as we have agreed to release Daan Human to the Springboks,’ White said. ‘He has done some amazing work with the pack, as can be seen on the field, and undoubtedly will be missed at Loftus. We have already engaged a few candidates and are confident that we will announce a suitable replacement shortly.’

The BBCo will also be announcing the junior coaching and management team within the next few weeks.

BULLS SENIOR COACHING STAFF

Director of rugby and head coach: Jake White
Backline coach: Chris Rossouw
Forwards coach: Russell Winter
Defence coach: Joey Mongalo
Breakdown coach: Nollis Marais
Technical advisor: Pine Pienaar
Scrum coach: TBC