New assistant coach Tony Brown reveals admiration for Springboks

By Doug Mattushek
13th March 2024

New Springboks assistant coach Tony Brown is excited to bring some Kiwi flavour to the Bok setup.

Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus unveiled his coaching staff to the media in the World Chamions' first press conference of the year on Tuesday. It's the beginning of a new four-year World Cup cycle and there are new faces in the team, with the former All Black flyhalf being one of them.

Other new faces in the coaching setup include Ireland's Jerry Flannery and retired international referee Jaco Peyper.

Speaking to the media, Brown expressed his admiration for the four-time World Cup winners.

"It's just a massive privilege to be sitting here," said the New Zealander.

"The Springboks have a massively proud history, and for me to come in and be a part of that and add to that is a huge honour.

"The way that the Springboks play the game is always admired around the world, and I've always been a big admirer of the way that the South African teams play, especially the Springboks.

"What the Springboks have done over the last two World Cups is massively impressive; the way they're able to win big games of rugby and win the key moments in games has been a pleasure to watch. For me it's just exciting to be part of it going forward.

"With the quality of player and their commitment to the Springbok jersey, if we get our coaching right, I think the Springboks can be a real dominant force going forward."

While he may hail from afar, Brown's rugby journey has been intertwined with South African rugby. As a player, he ran out for the Sharks in the 2006 Super Rugby season and then for the Stormers in 2008, under then-coach Erasmus. He also revealed a former Springbok flyhalf as one of his idols.

"My favourite player was Henry Honiball, and I tried to play the game that way as well," said the Otago native.

Coaching-wise, Brown's career has been rooted in the East. He was assistant coach at the Highlanders when they claimed the 2015 Super Rugby crown and has spent over a decade in the Japanese system from club to national duty.