MEDIA RELEASE

Durban, 15 June 2015

ANTICIPATION MOUNTS OVER RUGBY GREATS’ ARRIVAL IN KZN

Rugby players, coaches and enthusiasts can look forward to a chance to meet and learn from some of the icons of SA and international rugby in June, thanks to the Investec International Rugby Academy.

General Manager of the Investec International Rugby Academy, Greg Miller, has announced the impressive line-up of coaches participating in the week-long Coach and Player courses to be held at St Charles College in Pietermaritzburg from 27 June to 3 July 2015. The courses will feature three former 1991, 1999, 2007 and 2011 Rugby World Cup players; four international coaches; seven former Springboks; five local coaches, the current coach and a variety of specialist coaches.

Former Rugby World Cup players’ John Allan (1991), Werner Swanepoel (1999) and (2007 and 2011) will be bringing their expertise to the academy along with former Springbok’s assistant coach Dick Muir, former British Lions coach Andy Keast, ex-Wallabies kicking coach Braam van Straaten, ex-Springbok assistant coach and current Sharks coach Gary Gold, former Sharks coach Grant Bashford and All-Blacks, Chiefs and Blues technical advisor Nico le Roux. Boys can look forward to learning from former Springboks Dick Muir, Gcobani Bobo, Ian MacDonald and most capped South African Rugby Player Jacques Botes as well as local coaches’ Ryan Strudwick and Greg Miller. In addition to the professional coaches involved in the Investec International Rugby Academy, international referee, Mark Lawrence, will be teaching the theories behind the game of rugby and its laws.

Rugby stalwarts Peter de Villiers (2007 and 2011 Rugby World Cup coach) and Ian McIntosh (Springbok coach, selector and director of Natal Rugby in the 90s) are also part of the line-up. Behind the scenes training is also a feature of the Investec International Rugby Academy and specialists such as Mark Steele (former Springbok conditioning coach) and Tim Goodenough (meta-coach) will be teaching the physical and mental aspects of rugby.

The academy, based on the highly successful training model of the New Zealand Rugby Academy, offers courses for coaches and players at different levels and gives enrolees the opportunity to work closely with these coaches.

“Our courses are highly personalised; boys are able to eat, sleep and breathe rugby with the coaches for a full week in order to learn what it takes to be a top level rugby player or coach,” said Miller.

In order to cater to all levels of rugby, player’s courses are on offer to school-goers (aged eight years and up) and club players (beyond school level). Coaches’ courses (not age specific) are designed to equip enrolees with the skills to become a coach.

Investec International Rugby Academy courses offer more than just physical skills training and development – they give enrolees an in-depth opportunity to look into the lives of top level players, providing them with an understanding of what it takes to make it at the top level.

Butch James who will be coaching at the June course says the opportunities for young players, as offered by the Investec International Rugby Academy, are unique and a must for any player serious about his rugby career. “Only after playing professionally for many years do you learn some of the things you are taught at the Investec International Rugby Academy courses; the wealth of experience shared by the level of coaches is invaluable,” says James.

“At face-value, rugby teaches teamwork, social interaction, concentration, communication skills and self-discipline. But with this calibre of experience and the way the course is structured, the boys also learn life skills. It is so much more than just a rugby course, the boys leave with a whole other outlook - not only with regards to their rugby but also on life,” said Miller.

Miller, who has played 130 matches for Eastern Province and Border, says that, like himself, international coaches and top-level players involved in the Investec International Rugby Academy see the academy as an opportunity to give back to the youth.

“You take for granted how much of an impact you can have in moulding a child’s life,” says Miller. James agrees and shares his motivation for coaching as “the reward of seeing the boys implement what you have coached them, and the smile on their faces, when what you teach them improves their game.”

Miller’s coaching ideology outlines the hands-on training one can expect from Investec International Rugby Academy’s courses.

“Coaching is about understanding the team environment. In a team there are 15 unique individuals and, as a coach, you have to know how to deal with each one - his strengths, weaknesses and his position and not generalise in order to get through to him. The coaches for the June course have been specifically selected to ensure we offer the boys the best coaching available,” said Miller.

The Investec international Rugby Academy’s player and coach courses will commence on 27 June. To book contact Bernadine on 031 940 5565 or visit www.investecacademy.com.

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About Investec Investec is an international specialist bank and asset manager that provides a diverse range of financial products and services to a niche client base in three principal markets, the United Kingdom, South Africa and Australia as well as certain other countries. The group was established in 1974 and currently has approximately 8 200 employees.

Investec focuses on delivering distinctive profitable solutions for its clients in six core areas of activity namely, Asset Management, Wealth and Investment, Property Activities, Private Banking, Investment Banking and Capital Markets.

In July 2002 the Investec group implemented a dual listed company structure with listings on the London and Stock Exchanges. The combined group’s current market capitalisation is approximately GBP5.4 billion.

Issued by: UrbanHouse Media on behalf of Investec Bank Limited [email protected] 033 326 1023

For further information:

Investec Investor Relations +2711 286 7070 [email protected]