Jimmy Stonehouse accepts Japanese offer, resigns at Pumas
The Pumas rugby team, which is probably one of the favorites to win this year's Vodacom Cup, is without a coach after Jimmy Stonehouse just resigned to go to coach in Japan.
With less than two months to go before the start of the Vodacom Cup, the Pumas from Nelspruit are looking for a new coach.
The Mpumalanga Rugby Union (MRU) this afternoon announced that Jimmy Stonehouse, head coach of the Steval Pumas, has handed in his resignation yesterday to join the Japan-based club, Toshiba, as assistant coach.
According to the managing director of Mpumalanga Rugby Pty Ltd, Pieter Burger, Stonehouse will be dearly missed.
He was instrumental in the success of the team, especially over the last three years with the move to Nelspruit where he not only became the South African Rugby Union (Saru) coach of the year and set numerous team records, but also guided the professional team into the Absa Currie Cup premier division twice.
Stonehouse commented this year will be a great year for the Pumas. He said most of the hard work has been done and the coaching staff and players know what is expected of them. “I trust the long-term relationships I had with most of the players will at the end play a huge role in the future. This opportunity has, however, taken my professional career to the next level and I look forward to it. I would like to thank the Mpumalanga Rugby Union, the fans and especially our loyal sponsors for backing a winning brand and team.”
After a brief meeting with the players earlier today, Burger assured everyone that no quick decision would be made in appointing a new coach. “There will be an appointment made, but as with corporate companies this decision will only be made through the right processes. We will definitely not make any rush decisions and should one be made, it will benefit all parties. There are no hard feelings with Jimmy’s resignation, but we have to move on and continue with the legacy he is leaving.”
The Vodacom Cup tournament has prize money of R1 million and with the major unions that involve up to 35 players in their SuperRugby groups, the Pumas would once again be one of the favourites to win this tournament.
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