Some big names coaching in this year’s SRC

Of the 15 teams that contested last year’s SuperSport Rugby Challenge a whopping 11 have new coaches, with Brent Janse van Rensburg's off-season move from the iCollege Pumas to the Tafel Lager Griquas being one of them.

With Zimbabwe also joining the tournament as a 16th side, they, too, have a familiar face at the helm. Here's a brief introduction to the new coaches in the competition.

JACQUES JURIES (Downtouch Griffons)

After 11 years and four Currie Cup First Division titles, Oersond Gorgonzola has stepped down as the Griffons' head coach. His new replacement is former SWD Eagles, Pumas and Griffons winger Jacques Juries, whose career was cut short in 2000 by the main vein in his calf being blocked by the muscles.

Said early retirement drove him to early coaching, which has seen him coach the Griffons' under-19 and 20 teams and at the Harmony Academy.

Three titles apiece with the under-19s and 20, and producing Cecil Afrika, Branco du Preez, Seabelo Senatla and Ali Vermaak suggest we've got a live one on our hands.

SEAN ERASMUS (Golden Lions XV)

Having built Glenwood into the all-conquering school they have become in KwaZulu-Natal, and led his next project, Paarl Boys High, to an unbeaten streak of 59 games over three years, Erasmus comes highly recommended as something of a schoolboy coaching superstar.

The former SA Schools coach, who coached Damian Willemse and Gianni Lombard, among others, probably has a wee bit of pressure to show the pros what the fuss is all about.

SEAN EVERITT (Cell C Sharks XV)

Everitt comes in to replace former Sharks and Springbok fullback and Bok assistant coach Ricardo Loubscher. He has experience as the former attack and backline coach of the Sharks Currie Cup and Super Rugby sides.

Everitt has a bit of a job on his hands after Aphelele Fassi and JJ van der Mescht were promoted straight into the Super Rugby side after playing in the SuperSport Rugby Challenge.

IZAK VAN DER WESTHUIZEN (Toyota Free State Cheetahs XV)

At 33, the former Griquas, Cheetahs, Griffons and Edinburgh lock forward follows a lengthening tradition of former Cheetahs players cutting their coaching teeth at the union (think Daan Human, MJ Smith and Rory Duncan).

NOLLIS MARAIS (Vodacom Blue Bulls XV)

As a former Super Rugby head coach Marais is probably the second most senior coach of the coaches in the competition after former Springbok coach Peter de Villiers.

Marais has a good track record with younger teams and players, where he produced the likes of Warrick Gelant, RG Snyman and Manie Libbok, to name a few.

JEROME PAARWATER (DHL Western Province)

If Paarwater's coaching is anywhere near as hard-hitting as his tackling as a Western Province flanker in the 90s, then we should be in for a treat.

JIMMY STONEHOUSE (iCollege Pumas)

Having returned to the Pumas as Director of Rugby last year, the muscular Stonehouse is technically not new. But he has never coached hands on at SuperSport Rugby Challenge, so he's one of the new boys.

Also, if he wins the tournament we can all look forward to being serenaded with Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline"...

PETER DE VILLIERS (Zimbabwe Academy)

De Villiers is the most senior of the coaches as the former Springbok coach. He also comes highly decorated, having won back to back in New Zealand in 2008 and 2009, and won the Tri-Nations and the British and Irish Lions Series in 2009.

CHUMANI BOOI (Eastern Province Elephants)

The former Border, Griquas and Stormers winger has finally been given a head coach stint after doing his apprenticeship as an assistant at the Border Bulldogs and the Southern Kings.

EDDIE MYNERS (SWD Eagles)

The Springbok women’s team assistant coach is SWD Eagles through and through, having grown up in the area, played his rugby (mostly club rugby) in the area, and done pretty much all his coaching in the region assisting the likes of Phil Pretorius and Johann Lerm.

Andre Pretorius (North West Leopards)

Having cut his teeth in the Leopards' junior structures, the former Lions and Springbok flyhalf and 2007 World Cup-winner finally gets his chance as a head coach at first class level. He replaces former Blitzboks captain Jonathan Mokuena.