Theron thanked for his contribution
Theron completed his six-year reign as the Junior Springbok coach on Saturday in the bronze play-off at the World Under-20 Championship in Manchester, against Argentina, in which the team suffered a 19-49 defeat.
Under Theron's guidance, the Junior Springboks won the Junior World title in 2012 and collected one silver and two bronze medals in the past six years. As a player Theron earned 13 Test caps, while he played for Griquas from 1996 to 2009, before working his way up to become a celebrated provincial coach at the Kimberley-based Union.
He will join the Red Hurricanes in Japan on July 19 at their summer camp in Hokkaido, with his contract running until March 2018.
SA Rugby President Oregan Hoskins on Sunday thanked Junior Springbok Theron for his immense contribution to rugby in South Africa as a coach and player and wished him luck for the next chapter in his career in Japan.
"On behalf of SA Rugby I would like to thank Dawie [Theron] for his immense contribution to South African rugby. Dawie has been a fine ambassador for South African rugby having established himself as a top class provincial player and later a Springbok, and then a fine coach.
"In the past six years, the side has consistently been one of the best junior teams in the world. The Junior Springboks may not have achieved their objective of being crowned the champions in the World U20 Championship in England, but despite this Dawie can proud of his achievements over the years.
"I wish Dawie the best of luck as he embarks on this new chapter in his life in Japan," Hoskins said.
