De Villiers named Boks coach
South Africa have appointed their first black rugby union coach in naming Peter de Villiers as the man to succeed World Cup-winner Jake White.
De Villiers steps up to the senior squad having enjoyed success in charge of the Emerging Springboks and the South Africa Under-21s.
The 50-year-old has got the job ahead of the favourite, Heyneke Meyer, who won the Super 14 in charge of the Bulls.
The announcement followed a meeting of the SARU's Presidents' Council in Newlands on Wednesday.
SARU president Oregan Hoskins said: "Peter comes with a good record and strong recommendation and I am delighted that he has accepted this huge challenge.
"South African rugby is on top of the world at the moment and SARU is confident that the new coach will build on this great momentum and move us into a new era.
"Peter has created history today by becoming the first black person to coach the Springboks.
"He is a strong leader and a coach with a proven track record. We trust that the rugby fraternity will support him and the team as we embark on an exciting new phase of rugby in South Africa.
"I am sure that Peter will make a major contribution to our rugby."
The other names on the short-list were Allister Coetzee, White's assistant, and Chester Williams, winger in the 1995 World Cup-winning South Africa side.
