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Chester Williams to coach Emerging Boks

Thursday 15th May 2008

Former Bok wing and Sevens coach Chester Williams

World Cup-winning Springbok Chester Williams has been named as the new coach of the Emerging SA team to defend their IRB Nations Cup title in Romania next month.

He succeeds new Springbok coach Peter de Villiers who led the team to the title in 2007.

Boland coach Deon Davids will act as assistant coach to Williams in a seven-man management team.

The team again faces 2007 Rugby World Cup finalists Georgia (June 11) and Romania (June 20) as well as Italy A (June 15).

Williams is perfectly placed to understand the challenges the Emerging SA team will face as he is currently coaching in Romania as director of rugby for Dinamo Bucharest.

"The national team has been together here for two years and they always qualify for the World Cup," said Williams.

"It will be quite tough to come here and expect to beat them - we will have to work hard to achieve a result."

Williams has spent three months with Dinamo, leading them to the league title and into Sunday's national cup final after which he will return to South Africa.

"It's great to know that I can get back into the system with SA Rugby," he said.

"I have been following the Super 14 very closely through television and I'm sure we can put out a very strong team."

The squad will be named shortly before assembling in Cape Town on May 26 for a training camp before departure on June 7.