Rugby Union: Springboks appoint new coach

SOUTH AFRICA have sacked their coach, John Williams, for the home series against France following the national squad's lacklustre return to the international scene last year. He has been replaced by Gerrie Sonnekus, the Orange Free State coach.

Sonnekus, who played three Tests as a scrum-half or No 8 for the Springboks, favours a modern, running approach. Williams, however, has been accused of outdated thinking.

After going down to New Zealand and Australia at home, South Africa drew the two-Test series in France but suffered a record 33-16 defeat by England at Twickenham in November.

Meanwhile, the South African Rugby Football Union, which has come under fire for not doing enough to develop the game in the black townships, will be applying for affiliation to the National Sports Congress, the sports arm of the African National Congress.