Black letter day

Alistair Coetzee became the first black coach of a provincial team recently when he succeeded Nelie Smith at Eastern Province. The latter is well known to Irish rugby supporters particularly in the Ulster and more pointedly Ballymena area. Smith coached Ballymena and recommended their current coach Andre Bester to the club prior to his departure. Coetzee's appointment has been followed by that of another black coach, Eric Sauls, who will take over at South Western District Eagles. Sauls guided South Africa to two successive SANZAR Under-21 World Championship finals, winning in 1999 - Ireland finished last of the eight teams in Argentina - and beaten in this year's final.