Former Springbok and England forwards coach Matthew Proudfoot will take charge of the Stellenbosch University rugby team in the 2023 Varsity Cup.

The university released a statement on Monday after an article in Sunday newspaper Rapport revealed that Proudfoot will be returning to work in South Africa once he was announced as the new man at the helm of Maties this week.

Proudfoot has parted ways with the England RFU after three years as the now sacked Eddie Jones’ assistant.

“Matt Proudfoot agreed to step down after three years under former England senior men’s head coach Eddie Jones,” RFU executive director of performance rugby, Conor O’Shea, said in a statement.

“We are very grateful to Matt for all he has done for England and wish him every success in his next career move.”

Proudfoot added: “It has been a privilege to be part of the team for the last three years.”

Maties jumped at the chance to appoint Proudfoot after current head coach Norman Jordaan was roped in by the Western Province Rugby Union.

Proudfoot, a former Scotland prop and DHL Stormers assistant coach, was part of Rassie Erasmus’ backroom staff during the Boks’ successful 2019 World Cup campaign.

Maties kick off their Varsity Cup campaign with an exciting derby clash against Ikeys in Stellenbosch on 20 February.

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