Ludeke steps down as Bulls coach

Frans Ludeke has stepped down from his position as head coach of the Vodacom Blue Bulls with immediate effect‚ the provincial rugby union announced on Sunday.

He will be succeeded by Nollis Marais as new head coach of the provincial side for the 2015 Absa Currie Cup season.

The union said that the process to appoint a new Vodacom Bulls head coach for Super Rugby 2016 was ongoing.

In a statement‚ the union said that discussions with Ludeke about his future were also ongoing. An announcement would be made as soon as this was finalised.

The Blue Bulls Company Board of Directors also confirmed a decision in February 2015 to extend the contract of CEO Barend van Graan until January 2019.

Commenting on his new appointment‚ 43-year old Marais said: “This is a dream come true for me and something I have always wanted to do and worked towards in the various Blue Bulls structures. I would like to thank John Newbury‚ Chairman of the Board as well as other directors‚ the BBRU and president Gert Wessels and also the BBC and CEO Barend van Graan for their confidence in me to take over this important position. I would also like to thank Frans Ludeke‚ Johann van Graan and Heyneke Meyer who served as mentors to me.”

Marais‚ an accredited IRB (World Rugby) level 3 coach‚ has been involved with coaching at all levels in the union‚ starting his coaching career way back in 2003 as Under-15 coach of Overkruin High School in Pretoria. He has progressed through the ranks and in recent years coached UP-Tuks in the Varsity Cup (2010-15)‚ the Vodacom Blue Bulls Under-21’s (2011-2015) and the Vodacom Blue Bulls Vodacom Cup team (2013-15)‚ winning the Varsity Cup and Absa Under-21 Provincial Championship on his way to becoming the new Currie Cup coach.

He will meet with the various stakeholders soon and promises total commitment and passion to make sure the Vodacom Blue Bulls continue as one of the most successful teams in the history of the Absa Currie Cup.

“We will have a change in approach in the way we do things and play the game and I am excited about the mixture of talent we have between the youngsters in our system and the senior players. I have worked with all but five of the players in our squad before‚ so I’m very keen to continue in my efforts to assist them in becoming the best players they can be.”

New coaching teams for the Vodacom Blue Bulls Currie Cup‚ U21 Currie Cup and U19 Currie Cup teams respectively will be announced and communicated early next week‚ the union said.