The Yankee Stadium was known as the House that Ruth Built, after legendary slugger Babe Ruth, and the United Center in Chicago is synonymous with Michael Jordan’s exploits during the 1980s and 1990s. Can it be said that the North-West University’s Rugby Institute in Potchefstroom is the House that Matt Proudfoot Built?
It seldom happens that an individual’s career reaches its zenith, but is then overshadowed by what they accomplish next. Famous state prosecutors can become infamous politicians. Think of Rudi Giuliani. Television reality stars can become presidents. Good rugby players can become world-class coaches. Think of Matt Proudfoot.
This former NWU student and Scotland international player, who also scrummed down at prop for the Bulls, had a good rugby career, but what he subsequently accomplished can only be described as great. He moulded a Stormers pack with a reputation of being timid into a fearsome force, and as the Springboks’ forwards coach under Rassie Erasmus he now boasts a World Cup winner’s medal. Proudfoot has since moved on to assist Eddie Jones in England’s setup – the same foes the Boks outplayed so comprehensively on 2 November 2019 in Yokohama, Japan. But before all this, he was instrumental in building the NWU Rugby Institute into the behemoth that it is today.
Mervyn Taylor, his close friend and former colleague who is president of the Leopards Rugby Union and rugby manager at the North-West University, knows him like few others do.
“It is easy for me to talk about Matt because he was truly a good friend when he coached here at the university. We worked closely together on many projects that he started. The big thing about Matt was that he started his coaching career immediately after he stopped playing, and he brought that component to us. He knew what players wanted and he knew what to do to get the best out of players,” said Taylor.
“Matt also played in the professional era, so he imparted that professional mindset to the players as well. He made them realise what the bigger rugby picture entails.”
Under Proudfoot the NWU won consecutive Superbowl titles, and numerous Pirates Grand Challenge trophies and intervarsities. “Matt was perhaps the only coach I’ve worked with who was extremely focused on defence, and gave a lot of attention to defence coaching. As we are seeing, it has become one of the most important elements of the game. He took detail regarding defence to an all new level,” said Taylor.
“Matt is a man’s man. He could communicate with the players and he was loyal to his players and his management team. He had their backs at all times. He is a man who can walk with kings and with paupers.”
The Springboks will be all too well aware of his influence the next time they face England. Let’s hope it will not be to their detriment.
