SA U18 Coach - Lwazi Zangqa: “Winning Matters, But Success Is About Pathways and Player Welfare”

After a demanding Craven Week in Middelburg and two intense rounds of the U18 Men’s International Series, SA U18 coach Lwazi Zangqa shared his thoughts on selection, pathways, welfare, and the future of South African schools rugby.

SA U18 coach Lwazi Zangqa

What was the single hardest selection debate for the England game in Paarl on 16 August, and why?

“Well our initial selection process was centred around the following: set piece, workrate/battles, position specialisation and mind set. We were fortunate that all our players ticked those boxes. Our selection became less about the individual but rather who could display the above most frequently. That coupled with the need to play these young men prior to their junior bok experience meant playing time was evenly spread.”

WP had the most SA Schools and SA Schools A representatives. Is that talent concentration healthy for the pipeline, or a warning sign about competitive balance across unions? What are you doing to spread opportunity?

“WP deserves credit because their schools system is producing outstanding rugby players year after year. Our responsibility is to make sure the door stays open for players from every province by broadened our scouting networks, watching more high schools games and allowing those players to attend EPD camps. A player from any union has to believe that they have just as much chance as any player.”

SA Rugby reaffirmed the lower tackle-height application for community/schools in 2025. What trends are you seeing in collision profiles, cards, and skill emphasis, and how have you adapted coaching to keep winning while reducing head-contact risk?

“Coaches across South Africa have had to coach it and be more deliberate. We speak of a level change that acts as a trigger for our players. It actually makes players more effective defensively because they control the collision better. Due to the span we have these players for it’s important that they take what we have said on board and implement within their respective schools.”

With renewed debate about recruitment of schoolboy stars, where do you draw the ethical red line? And should SA Rugby tighten enforcement around agents/scouts operating in the schools space?

(Note: The coach did not provide a direct recorded answer here, but stressed elsewhere the importance of pathways remaining open, transparent, and accessible to all players regardless of background.)

Can you walk us through a specific example where data (GPS loads, contact involvements, skill KPIs) overturned reputation in picking between two players for the SA Schools vs SA Schools A showcase?

“Data is there for us to assist players with facts. Often it does tell a picture but reaffirming those stats with knowledge is vital. Believe how a team view stats is important and ultimately creates a positive environment around them. Stats are seldom there to overturn but rather as a measure to assist the players with total outputs.”

With SA Rugby’s Get Into Rugby program reaching 200,000 young players annually, how do you bridge the gap between grassroots development and elite U18 selection? What specific programs are you implementing to ensure talent from all backgrounds has equal opportunity?

“There are many programmes with grass root communities that help unearth diamonds. iQhawe week is a typical example that shows players from disadvantaged areas are scouted to play in programmes with more resources. Craven week boasts these players and ultimately selected for EPD camps and SA schools representation.”

School rugby exists within an educational framework. How do you work with schools and parents to ensure your elite U18 players maintain academic excellence while pursuing rugby at the highest level, especially considering the increasing demands of modern rugby?

“We remind our players constantly that rugby is part of their journey, not the full journey. Education remains the priority. We work closely with schools for tests and assignments during their period with SA U18. In camps we schedule time for study and academic support. We want them to leave this program better rugby players, but also well-rounded young men with options for the future.”

With increasing concerns about player safety and the physical demands of modern rugby, what specific protocols and development programs do you have in place to protect these young athletes while still preparing them for the intensity of senior rugby?

“Player welfare sits at the heart of what we do. At this age, the young men are still developing physically and mentally, so we have to be careful not to overload them. We manage contact carefully, with clear limits on training collisions, and repetitions. Our strength and conditioning coaches are focused on movement quality, mobility as an injury prevention measures. We also educate players on nutrition, recovery, and sleep. The idea is to build habits that will protect them when they step into senior rugby, rather than burning them out.”

How are you incorporating modern technology – whether it’s performance analysis, GPS tracking, or social media – into your coaching approach, and what role do you see technology playing in the future development of school rugby?

“Technology has become part of daily coaching. GPS and performance analysis give us a clear picture of workloads, movement patterns, and skill execution. That means we can get player centred feedback. Game Analysis remains at the forefront of rugby as visual learning is how young players learn. Looking ahead, I think tech will keep driving smarter training and better injury prevention. The challenge is always to use it as a tool and evolve with it.”

If you had to define success for your tenure as SA U18 coach, what would that look like beyond just winning matches? What legacy do you want to leave for South African school rugby, and how do you see the school rugby landscape evolving over the next five years?

“Winning matters, but also for me success is measured by how many players leave this program ready for junior boks in the following year. Reaffirming pathways so that boys from every background feel they have a genuine chance to make it, that will be sufficient for me. Over the next five years, I believe school rugby will continue to grow in its reach and professionalism. Meaningful support around education and player welfare. Completing the above we would all have assisted in the growth of this nation’s rugby.”