Cheetahs unveil coaches for tournament overlap

Rory Duncan will take charge of the Cheetahs in Pro14 when it overlaps with the Currie Cup matches. 

Duncan will be as assisted by Corniel van Zyl (forwards coach), Dave Williams (backline coach) and Charl Strydom (defence coach). The team manager will be Sakkie Wessels.

Williams has been appointed as the new backline/attack coach for Pro14 as well as the Currie Cup moving forward. 

Williams is an experienced coach and was previously the assistant coach for the Koble Steelers in Japan.

He also coached London Irish and Bath in England. He was also the backline and coach coordinator for the Southern Kings.

Where the Pro14 overlaps with the Currie Cup, the Currie Cup coach will be Daan Human with MJ Smith as backline coach. 

Albert Keuris will act as skills coach.

Director of Rugby Franco Smith will apart from all his other responsibilities, also assist both teams with skills, structures and strategy.

The Cheetahs play their first Pro14 match on September 1 against Ulster followed a week later against Munster in Ireland.

On the same dates, the Free State Cheetahs will play in the Currie Cup against the Sharks (Durban) and Western Province (Cape Town), consecutively.

Ashwell Rafferty will be the Currie Cup team manager for the season and will join the Pro14 moving forward.