Ivan van Rooyen has been appointed as Lions head coach for the 2020 Vodacom Super Rugby season.

Van Rooyen, who had worked as the Lions’ fitness coach since 2012 before taking over as Currie Cup coach in 2018, now also replaces Swys de Bruin as the man in charge of the Super Rugby team.

De Bruin has recently vacated his position to join the Kings’ backroom staff on a consultancy basis.

Van Rooyen’s assistant coaches and other support staff have not been confirmed yet, but Lions CEO Rudolf Straeuli was adamant that the union had made the right choice with its head coach appointment.

‘Ivan van Rooyen is someone who can build on the successes of past years. He has proven his worth within the Lions company structures,’ Straeuli said.

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