Heyneke Meyer is one of the most celebrated coaches in South Africa, having been the first South African coach to win the Super Rugby trophy.
With nearly 30 years of experience coaching professional teams, the Mbombela-born coach has secured multiple trophies, including the 2007 Super Rugby trophy with the Vodacom Bulls.
After coaching youth and school teams, Meyer rose to the position of head coach for the SWD Eagles in 1998, where he led the team to strong performances in the Currie Cup. He also served as the forwards coach for the Stormers and Emerging Springboks in 1999.
Heyneke Meyer’s work at the Bulls was widely praised
In 2000, Meyer joined the Bulls, guiding them to four Currie Cup titles and a historic Super Rugby title in 2007, making him the first South African coach to achieve this feat.
The Bulls also became the first and only team to lift the Super Rugby title at that time. After losing the 2007 Currie Cup semifinal against the Free State Cheetahs, Meyer left the Pretoria franchise.
On June 30, 2008, he was named head coach of the Leicester Tigers in England. His tenure was short-lived after he took compassionate leave to attend to family matters in South Africa after just 15 matches.
The South African coach subsequently stepped down from his position on January 28, 2009 and later took up an executive role with the Bulls.
Heyneke Meyer’s Springboks tenure brought mixed results
In January 2012, Meyer was appointed head coach of the Springboks on a four-year term, taking over from Peter de Villiers. During his time, the Springboks played commendable rugby but were often dominated and outplayed by the All Blacks during their golden era.
Meyer coached the Springboks in their first-ever game against Japan in the 2015 World Cup. The Brave Blossoms produced one of the biggest upsets in rugby history by defeating the Springboks 34–32 with a try in the corner deep into injury time. Following that match, Meyer faced criticism for favouring “experience over talent” and was required to issue a public apology to South Africans after the embarrassing defeat.
After losing to the All Blacks in the 2015 World Cup semifinal, he expressed a desire to continue as coach, but many opposed the extension of his contract.
After departing from the Springboks, Heyneke Meyer took on the head coach/director role at Stade Français in the French Top 14 for the 2018–2019 season.
Where is Heyneke Meyer today?
As of mid-2025, Heyneke Meyer serves as the Director of Rugby for the Houston SaberCats in Major League Rugby (MLR), a position he has held since July 2021 and is contracted through the end of the 2025 MLR season.
The 57-year-old coach recently said he desired to return to South Africa once his contract expired.
Was Heyneke a good coach for the Boks?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211.
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