Kiwi coach 'stays on' at Stormers
Feeney visited the mother city in August, where provided 'fresh' insights and exchanged ideas with the Stormers and Western Province coaching staff.
The New Zealander, a specialist attack coach, at the weekend told Auckland-based Star Times that he has now signed a three-year deal to help coach the Stormers.
Feeney and his wife leave on Monday for Cape Town, where he'll take on the role as assistant coach.
According to the Kiwi, his brief is to focus on attack and skills under head coach Robbie Fleck, the former Springboks midfielder, and Director of Rugby Gert Smal.
A 'well travelled' coach, having also worked in France, Japan and Fiji, Feeney have just completed a one-year stint as Blues skills coach under Tana Umaga.
Feeney attended training sessions, met players and coaches, and visited the academy in Stellenbosch where he viewed the Under-19 and Under-21 players.
He said he was impressed by the budding talent the region has to offer.
"I'm excited by the opportunity to go and coach in South Africa," Feeney told Fairfax Media of his new role.
"When you're a young kid you talk about South Africa and New Zealand all the time.
"Now I've got the chance to go over there and see what they do first hand. I'm going to learn a lot and hopefully I can help them as well."
After a season where the Stormers played no Kiwi teams during the Super Rugby round robin and were then embarrassed 60-21 in their home quarterfinal against the Chiefs, the union clearly believes harnessing a New Zealand influence will be beneficial.
"They're keen to get an overseas coach and one from New Zealand as well," Feeney said.
"We can bounce ideas. They'll look at some of my skills and blend them with their own. It's always good to get ideas from outside and a different culture as well. We had a good chat about that with the coaching staff."
Source: Star Times
