Wessels Credits Erasmus for Building a Winning Culture across All South african Rugby Teams
South Africa’s national rugby teams are experiencing unprecedented success, a feat largely attributed to the groundwork laid by Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus, according to SA Rugby’s general manager for high-performance rugby, Dave Wessels. This success extends beyond the Springboks, impacting teams across all levels of the South African rugby system.
Since taking charge of the Springboks in 2018, Erasmus has overseen a period of dominance, culminating in back-to-back Rugby World Cup victories in Japan (2019) adn France (2023). The team also secured a 2-1 series win against the British & Irish Lions in 2021 and claimed Rugby Championship titles in both 2024 and 2025.
however,Erasmus’ influence extends beyond the senior national team. He simultaneously focused on strengthening SA rugby’s Elite Player Progress (EPD) structures, benefiting all national squads. In March 2024, Wessels was appointed to a newly created role as general manager for high-performance rugby, allowing Erasmus to concentrate solely on the Springboks while wessels assumed obligation for the nation’s other teams – a position he described as one he “could not turn down” when approached by Erasmus.
Wessels’ history wiht Erasmus dates back to 2008, when he served as a technical analyst at the Stormers. He emphasized that everyone involved in SA Rugby really feels the responsibility to bring their A game and to really give their best.
Wessels specifically praised the performances of the SA U20, Sevens, and senior women’s sides. He emphasized the strength of South Africa’s talent pipeline, crediting the nation’s schools and club structures for their crucial role in player development.”Both the Junior Boks and the Blitzboks, the Sevens, we are so blessed with the amount of talent we have in the country and notably the amazing job that the schools and the club structures do for us in providing that and developing that talent,” he explained.He lauded the coaching staff,specifically mentioning Kevin Foote (SA U20) and Philip Snyman (Blitzboks),for maximizing player potential.
The growth of women’s rugby is also a key focus. Wessels admitted his initial perspective underestimated the potential of the Springbok Women’s team. “When I joined SA Rugby, I probably thought of all of the teams that I’m involved with and then sort of women as an extra, you know? And I feel almost totally different about that now,” he said. “I’m super excited about the growth of women’s sports and the appetite from fans and from commercial partners for women’s sports is growing rapidly.” He envisions the Springbok Women becoming medal contenders at future World Cups, aiming for a potential world championship title.
Ultimately,Wessels attributes much of the current success to the culture cultivated by erasmus. “Rassie and his team have really created this golden era of South African rugby. And I think sometimes as fans we don’t quite appreciate how special it is,” he commented.He highlighted Erasmus’ ability to maintain a high-performing squad while consistently introducing new talent. “So he’s created this ecosystem of performance that just the clarity of responsibilities and expectations is so high, then I think everybody resonates really well with the purpose.”
Wessels emphasized the unifying power of the Springboks, noting their ability to bring joy to the nation. “The Springboks bring joy to the country, to a country that frequently enough needs it. And so there’s this real high purpose among the group. That sort of is what we’re trying to replicate then, with the other teams.” He acknowledged the systems established by Erasmus and Charles Wessels (Springboks team manager), such as the EPD system, as foundational to the current success. “So, a lot of the success that the other national teams are having at the moment is due to a lot of the great work that they did, when he was doing this role and covering the teams that I’m working with.”
