Rugby   The SRU brings in full-time rugby coach   |11 December 2023

Seasoned coach Quintin Hiepner has been assigned with producing a medal-winning team for Seychelles

•          Targeting development at  grassroots level

In its manoeuver to bring future success and medals for Seychelles, the local rugby governing body has obtained the services of a full-time rugby coach who will look to harness local talents and grow the player numbers by providing free coaching within local schools.

Since last month, South African coach Quintin Hiepner has been in the country, conducting sessions with various local state and private schools to assess the level of interests for rugby among the kids, while detecting young talents worth nurture to create the generation of players Seychelles needs to shine at international level.

A former player of the Durban Collegians, coach Hiepner is already impressed by the level of interests, and also the level of progress made by the Seychelles Rugby Union (SRU) after only two years in existence.

It is to note that it was September 28, this year that the SRU received confirmation of its membership with the Federation of International Touch Rugby, thus, allowing it as a member to take part in international tournaments.

As part of its mandate to promote and spread the sport of rugby locally, especially at grassroots level, the SRU started to partner with local educational institutions, helping them set up, or improve existing school rugby programmes.

This has been made possible through a donation of equipment from the British High Commission in Victoria.

During 2023, the SRU has been distributing equipment to various schools around the country, while since his arrival, coach Hiepner has been involved with various institutions, including the Belonie secondary, English River secondary, Mont Fleuri secondary, Independent School and the International School.

Speaking to Sports NATION, coach Hiepner, who is in his 13th year of coaching, said during his first years as a trainer, he specialised mostly in development, and with rugby just getting off the ground here, it is the perfect opportunity for him to lend a hand, while his main mission is prepare the country to be represented at the Indian Ocean Island Games (IOIG) 2027.

“Not only to enter, but to compete,” he explained.

He commended the SRU captain, Luke Fonseka, for the exceptional job done in just two years, adding that whatever achievements he saw makes him very excited to be part of and continue with the work, having notice great potentials and space for growth.

Coach Hiepner said, the perfect way to attract and retain young players is to always make the sessions fun, while also maintaining the element of discipline and seriousness.

“The more they enjoy it, the more the words spread and more kids want to get involved,” said coach Hiepner, adding that kids are like sponges, the more they enjoy, the more they remember, thus they will become better and better with each session.

Regarding the concept that rugby is a violent sport, coach Hiepner described it as ‘hooligans’ game, played by gentlemen, noting that his strategy is to teach them the proper fundamentals of game, which once understood, will minimise all risks of injuries.

“It is all about getting familiar, and the right technique,” explained coached Hiepner, adding that it will not be full-on contact straight from the start, but rather from a touch rugby perspective, before slowly transiting to contact at a later stage.

He said depending on the progress, they will anticipate a school tournament next year, involving all the institutions involved in the development programme.

On behalf of the SRU, captain Fonseka said they are thrilled to have been able to recruit such a high calibre coach who has coached the World Champions South Africa’s under-19 team.

He said, as part of the SRU’s five-year plan, coach Hiepner has been charged with developing the Seychelles youth teams, specifically the under-14  and the  under-18  so that they can go on and be competitive throughout the region and start bringing medals back.

Captain Fonseka added that the Seychelles’ rugby community is excited to see how far coach Hiepner can take Seychelles’ rugby, and that the SRU believes this is just the beginning and rugby in Seychelles is in the best position that it has ever been in.

Roland Duval