Franco Smith - Naka’s successor

It is an exciting time with lots of developments and Free State Rugby is happy to announce that not only will Franco Smith be the Head Coach of the Toyota Free State Cheetahs for Currie Cup, but also that he will take over from Naka Drotske as Head Coach of the Toyota Cheetahs for Super Rugby.

His operations for the 2016 Super Rugby tournament will start on 1 November 2015.  He is appointed for a four year term.

Franco will have full say over the coaching of both the Super Rugby and Currie Cup teams of the Toyota Cheetahs and Toyota Free State Cheetahs.  He will also be a member of Free State Rugby‘s Coaching- and Rugby Committees and will have the privilege to appoint his assistant coaches and team management for the different competitions. 

Franco is already an experienced coach and was part of the Cheetahs coaching and management team who won the Currie Cup in 2005 and 2006.  Franco has experience as a European coach with Treviso in Italy where he coached the team to three consecutive Italian championship victories and qualifying and participating in the Heineken Cup competition.  Franco also proven himself through coaching the Shimlas to their first ever Varsity Cup championship in 2015. 

Smith is a son of the Free State who made his mark as a player when he represented South Africa in 18 matches and 9 Test matches.  He further represented the Free State, Griquas, Blue Bulls and Pumas in the Currie Cup and also the Bulls on Super Rugby level.

“We wish Franco Smith the best of luck with his new role and look forward to a new era in Cheetah Rugby with Franco and his coaching team for the next four years.” Mr. Harold Verster, Managing Director of the Free State Cheetahs (Pty) Ltd.

Franco’s support staff

Corniel van Zyl has been earmarked to take the position as forwards coach for the Toyota Cheetahs. Van Zyl is no stranger to Free State.   He was part of the Cheetah team who won the Currie Cup in 2005, 2006 and 2007.  Corniel continued his rugby career at Treviso and represented Italy in the 2011 World Cup and played in seven Tests for Italy.  Corniel is currently a player/coach with the Italian club, Treviso.  He will be relocating to Bloemfontein in the next two months. The rest of the support staff that did duty in 2014 Currie Cup campaign will stay intact.

Franco Smith neem by Naka Drotske oor as breier

Dis ? tyd van opwindende verwikkelinge en Vrystaat Rugby is verheug om aan te kondig dat Franco Smith nie net die nuwe Hoofafrigter vir die Toyota Vrystaat Cheetahs vir die Absa Curriebeker is nie, maar ook dat hy by Naka Drotske sal oorneem as hoofafrigter van die Toyota Cheetahs vir Super Rugby. 

Sy werksaamhede vir die 2016 Super Rugby toernooi neem reeds aanvang op 1 November 2015.  Die aanstelling is vir ? tydperk van 4 jaar. 

Franco sal volle seggenskap oor die afrigting van beide die Super Rugby en Curriebeker spanne van die Toyota Cheetahs hê en sal ook lid wees van Vrystaat Rugby se Afrigting- en Rugbykomitees.  Verder sal Franco die voorreg hê om sy hulpafrigters en spanbestuur aan te stel vir die verskillende kompetisies.

Franco is reeds ? ervare afrigter en was deel van die Cheetahs se afrigting en bestuurspan met die wen van die Curriebeker in 2005 en 2006. Franco het ook ervaring as ‘n Europese afrigter met Treviso in Italië waar Franco die span gebrei het na drie agter eenvolgende Italiaanse kampioenskap oorwinnings en kwalifisering en deelname aan die Heineken-beker kompetisie. Franco bewys weer sy kwaliteit wanneer hy die Shimlas lei tot ? eerste Varsity-beker kompetisie in 2015.

Smith is ‘n Vrystaatse seun wat ook as speler reeds sy merk gemaak het. Hy het Suid-Afrika in 18 wedstryde en in 9 Toets wedstryde verteenwoordig. Hy verteenwoordig verder die Vrystaat, Griekwas, Blou Bulle en Pumas in die Curiebeker kompetisie en ook die Bulle op Super Rugby vlak.

“Ons wens Franco Smith sterkte toe vir sy nuwe rol en sien uit na ? nuwe era in Cheetah Rugby saam met Franco en sy afrigtingspan oor die volgende 4 jaar.”   Harold Verster Besturende Direkteur Vrystaat Cheetahs (Edms.) Bpk.

Franco se Afrigting span:

Corniel van Zyl is geoormerk om as voorspeler afrigter vir die Toyota Cheetahs diens te doen. Corniel is geen vreemdeling vir Vrystaters nie. Hy was deel van die van die Cheetah span wat die Currie Beker in 2005, 2006 en 2007 verower het. Corniel het in Italië sy  loopbaan by Treviso voort gesit en het Italië in die Wêreld beker in 2011 verteenwoordig en in totaal sewe toetse vir Italië gespeel. Corniel is huidiglik speler/ afrigter by die Italiaanse span Treviso. Corniel sal hom reeds oor die volgende twee maand in Bloemfontein vestig. Die res van die bestuur- en ondersteuningspan van die 2014 Curriebeker kompetisie span sal onveranderd voortgaan.