Boks finally appoint manager for UK tour

Interim Bok team manager: Arthob Petersen

Former Springbok team manager Arthob Petersen will return to the post for South Africa's end-of-year tour to Britain.

Petersen, who has been given the role for the third time, has been appointed on a temporary basis for the November tour to England, Wales and Scotland. He served as team manager during the tenures of former Bok coaches Nick Mallett, between 1997 and 1999, as well as Jake White in 2004 and 2005.

Petersen vacated the position two years into White's reign because of what was believed to be a breakdown in communication with the coach, and he was replaced by Zola Yeye, who accompanied the team to the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

The need for an interim Bok team manager arose after Andy Marinos, who is also the manager of national teams, became acting SA Rugby managing director following the departure of Jonathan Stones.

Petersen was one of six candidates nominated by the provincial unions for the position. Golden Lions Rugby union president Jannie Ferreira, who headed the search for an interim team manager, said on Wednesday that Petersen was appointed as he is "experienced and has done the job before".

He stressed however that the appointment was only for the year-end tour and that the procedure to find a full-time manager would be discussed at SARU's next presidents' council meeting mid-November.

"His appointment was accepted by SARU president Oregan Hoskins and Springbok coach Peter de Villiers," said Ferreira.

Petersen, who has also served as an executive member of SARU, knows De Villiers well as both men come from the Paarl area.