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With Sam Talakai joining Glasgow Warriors, former Wallabies coach Kevin Foote has announced he will return to South Africa to take up the role of Springboks Under-20s coach at Melbourne Levels.
The 45-year-old, originally from Johannesburg, has been in Australia for 10 years after ending his playing career as captain of the South African national sevens team.
Now the former Force Assistant and Head Coach of Levels has followed another high-profile figure back to the Republic at the urging of Dave Wessels.
Former Rebels coach Dave Wessels has signed Kevin Foote from Melbourne. (Photo: Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images)
It comes after Wessels, who worked with Foote and Force at Levels before being ousted in mid-2021, was appointed general manager of South Africa earlier this year.
SA Rugby chief executive Ryan Oberholzer said the changes were part of a four-year strategic plan to restructure the nation’s high-performing departments to achieve specific objectives.
“We have set our sights on winning the 2027 Rugby World Cup for the Springboks, but we also have goals for other national teams,” Overholzer said.
“We expect the Junior Boks to win at least one World Rugby U20 Championship within three years, the Springbok Women’s team to climb up the world rankings into the top eight and the Blitzboks to consistently win medals at major tournaments.
“As part of this drive, we have appointed Dave Wessels as General Manager to oversee the restructuring of our high-performing team, and this appointment is the first step in that process.
“Dave joined us in March and has worked hard with all the role players involved to identify where we are lacking and what we can do to provide what is needed to be successful for all national teams. Further appointments will be made in due course.”
Former Rebels coach Kevin Foote will lead the Junior Springboks in 2025. (Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)
With Waratahs boss Darren Coleman unable to find a successor, Foote is understood to have considered a move into corporate life, drawing on his years of leadership experience.
The mild-mannered mentor united the rebels and guided the Super Rugby franchise to its first final despite spending a difficult year in voluntary administration.
In the end, the guillotine came down on the Rebels, just days before their first final appearance. Nevertheless, the Rebels pushed the Hurricanes over the ditch in the first half, and the Super Rugby minor premiers showed their muscle in the second half.
“Kevin is highly regarded because he has coached at every level of the game since his playing career ended,” Overholzer said.
“Having played for the Blitzboks, he knows what’s at stake at international level and has also gained experience in Australia with Western Force and Melbourne Levels over the last 10 years.
“The Junior Springbok programme is a vital cog in our player development pipeline from school through to senior ranks and we are confident that Kevin will add something to the team. Nhleko Bafana have laid the foundations over the past four years and the number of players who have progressed to the Springbok team during his tenure and those currently playing for URC is testament to this.”
Meanwhile, another former Rebels player is headed to England, with Isaac Kylia’s move to the Waratahs confirmed by The Roar earlier this month.
Despite his experience and leadership, Talakai was not heavily considered by most Australian Super Rugby franchises and was eventually signed by the Warriors in Scotland.
Franco Smith, an experienced Springbok coach, said he was delighted to have the Talakaai native join his team.
“Sam is a proven player and we believe he can join our squad this season,” Smith said.
“Having played 100 games in Super Rugby shows that he has consistently performed at a high level and having someone of that experience in our squad for our young, Scottish-qualified first-choice players to learn from can only benefit the club and Scottish rugby in the long term.
“Sam’s arrival will allow us to better manage the workload of our senior international front row during what will be a long and demanding season. We look forward to welcoming him to Scotstoun and our squad in the coming weeks.”
Talakai will join former Rebels centre Sione Tuipulotu and former Waratahs and Wallabies player Jack Dempsey at the Warriors.
Despite regularly starting in front of Taniela Tupou in 2024, Sam Talakai has found a new home in Glasgow. (Photo: Joe Allison/Getty Images)
“I had only heard good things about Glasgow and the people and the direction the club was going played a big part in that,” Talakai said.
“The rugby programme is impressive, we have a great squad and the children get to experience a new culture as part of Glasgow Warriors and the city of Glasgow.
“I spoke to Franco earlier this year and he talked about the vision of the club and where we want to go as a group. It was an impressive meeting and I am delighted to be joining. Since then I have been in regular contact with Sione. We played together in Australia and he spoke very highly of the club, the group and the city. Having those conversations and hearing everyone’s positive comments about the club made it easier for me to make the decision.
“On the field, I’m just a guy who goes to work and does a great job for the team. Off the field, I’m pretty calm. My family and I are just trying to settle in and connect with the community and look forward to meeting Warrior Nation soon.”
