Cape Town. - World Cup-winning Springbok Chester Williams has been named as the new coach of the Emerging SA team to defend their IRB Nations Cup title in Romania next month. He succeeds new Springbok coach Peter de Villiers who led the team to the title in 2007.

Boland coach Deon Davids will act as assistant coach to Williams in a seven-man management team.

The team again faces 2007 Rugby World Cup finalists Georgia (June 11) and Romania (June 20) as well as Italy A (June 15).

Williams is perfectly placed to understand the challenges the Emerging SA team will face as he is currently coaching in Romania as director of rugby for Dinamo Bucharest.

“The national team has been together here for two years and they always qualify for the World Cup,” said Williams. “It will be quite tough to come here and expect to beat them – we will have to work hard to achieve a result.”

Williams has spent three months with Dinamo, leading them to the league title and into Sunday’s national cup final after which he will return to South Africa. “It’s great to know that I can get back into the system with SA Rugby,” he said. “I have been following the Vodacom Super 14 very closely through television and I’m sure we can put out a very strong team.”

The squad will be named shortly before assembling in Cape Town on May 26 for a training camp before departure on June 7.

NOTE: The IRB Nations Cup was introduced to the global Rugby calendar in 2006 in order to provide an expanded competition pathway for Tier 1 A sides, while providing Tier 2 and 3 Test teams with the opportunity to compete in a high intensity international competition against high level opposition. The inaugural competition was won by Argentina A in Portugal. Emerging SA beat Argentina A in Romania last year to claim the title on their first appearance.

Management team

Head Coach:               Chester Williams
Asst Coach:                Deon Davids (Boland)
Team Manager:          Pieter Visser (Golden Lions)
Doctor:                        Dr Craig Thompson (Vodacom Western Province)
Physio:                        Vivian Verwant (Vodacom Free State)
Conditioner:                 Robbie Brazelle (Vodacom Free State)
Baggage Master:        JJ Fredericks (SA Rugby)