South Africa have appointed their first black rugby union coach in naming Peter de Villiers as the man to succeed World Cup winner Jake White.

THE task of finding a new South Africa rugby coach shifted up a gear yesterday when the first two candidates for the vacant position were interviewed by the country’s rugby bosses.

NIGEL MELVILLE is remembered as a will-o’-the-wisp, slippery scrum-half from his distinguished playing days and he has lost none of his touch, if one is to judge by the sleight of hand he has attempted in a bid to clear banned Gloucester hooker Chris Fortey for tomorrow’s Heineken Cup tie at Kingsholm.

Former Springbok coach Andre Markgraaff has withdrawn his name from the shortlist to coach South Africa after the death of his younger brother Pierre.

Former Springbok coach Nick Mallett was omitted from a four-man shortlist for the vacant South Africa job today.

South Africa claimed a surprise 33-26 victory over New Zealand in Dubai to win the first of this season’s IRB Sevens events.

A new race row threatens to overshadow the Springboks’ biggest game in four years after South African Rugby Union boss Mvuleli Ncula today voiced concerns that the side selected to take on the All Blacks is too white.