Former Bok coach Heyneke Meyer opens up in new book

• Author: Sameer Naik sameer.naik@inl.co.za
• Date: 06 February 2021
• Published date: 06 February 2021

Meyer coached the Springboks for three years, from 2012 to 2015, leading the Boks to a World Cup final.

However his tenure as Bok coach also included a shock defeat to Japan in the 2015 Rugby World Cup, something that not only he took criticism for, but his family too.

“It was really tough for the family, they got crucified. The kids read social media and so it was really tough on (them),” Meyer told the Independent on Saturday’s sister paper, the Saturday Star.

“You may be fine and focused, but it’s very tough for the people around you. You get sworn at and taken on, so I am thankful for my family and the manner in which they stuck with me. If it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t have achieved any of my success.”

His three sons in particular have had to deal with plenty of abuse.

“They’ve gotten a lot of criticism, lost a lot of friends and it wasn’t easy being at school,” says Meyer.

“I didn’t realise social media was so tough and so harsh, and obviously they are young so they read all that.”

Meyer’s latest book, 7 – My notes on leadership and life, which he says is dedicated to his three sons, is not about his tenure as a highly decorated coach, but rather about the life lessons he learned over a coaching career that had incredible highs and lows.

Meyer makes specific mention of the enormous sacrifices his family had to make during his career.

Meyer not only coached the Springboks, but also the Bulls and the Stormers, and the Leicester Tigers in the UK.

“You simply can’t do it alone and you need a really good support structure, and my family has been great,” said Meyer.

“I only saw my middle son in the first 30 days of the first year of him being born, so you have to pay the price.”

“Obviously it’s been tough on my family … and that’s why I have written my books, so they can be life lessons for my sons.”

Meyers...