DHL Stormers skills and performance analyst coach Labeeb Levy will be the new head Coach of the DHL Western Province team in the upcoming Currie Cup 2025 campaign. Levy will be assisted by former Springbok defence coach Dr Brendan Venter, as well as recently retired players in-veteran prop Brok Harris and scrumhalf Dewald Duvenhage.
“Coach Beeba” as he is fondly known to his peers, hails from the suburb of Bokaap in Cape Town and is a very popular figure and an extremely knowledgeable coach in the rugby circles of the Western Cape.
He has been a long time servant in club rugby, touch rugby, 7s and forms part of the DHL Stormers coaching team. Levy has also worked at various levels from being a rugby educator at the Western Province union - conducting World rugby coaching courses for future coaches to working with all teams in Western Province set up.
Telecom Asia Sport had the opportunity to chat with Labeeb and get his personal thoughts on being appointed as the new Western Province Currie head coach.
I’m really honored to be appointed the new head coach for the Western Province team in the Currie cup. I have been in the system for a very long time so it means a lot to me personally and to my community.
I’m actually the first South African Muslim head coach to be appointed as a Currie Cup head coach.” This is big for me and my community, especially with the rich history of our community.
All the hard work, dedication, loyalty and the years of sacrifice at the union has paid off. Being appointed as the new head coach at DHL Western Province is not only seen as a great reward for him personally but also an excellent opportunity to show his capabilities.
I would like to run my own ship for a few Currie Cup campaigns and it must not be a once off thing, but rather I would like to be in charge for a few years, as I want to build up a good team for the future and develop the younger players.
I’m overall, very grateful for the opportunity to be a head coach and its always great working with youngsters that are hungry, enthusiastic and want to play for you. As far as I know the DHL Stormers will ring-fence(Rest) 33 to 40 players for the next 2 months, so I won’t have them and the 6 Springboks that are on national Duty.
I will work with a lot of youngsters from our Western Province junior teams and also with some experienced players like Scarra Ntubeni and Jean Luc Du Plessis. I’m excited to start that first game at home against the Bulls and get the campaign going.
Levy brings experience, knowledge and most importantly continuity
Some of the characteristics that Levy brings to the team is very unique and dynamic with the skills that he has acquired (knowledge) through touch rugby and 7s. Prime examples are like catch and pass, spatial awareness, ball movement and creating time on the ball. He works very closely with the individual players on the high ball work, passing with offloading in contact and passing before contact, evasive running and transitional play. Off the ball work
is also another component that he deals with and this is a lot to do with work rate and effort.
Experience and knowledge is something that Levy has built up over the years, so he is very deserving of this head coach post. It would not be a be surprise to see him succeed in his first season as 20 years of experience and knowledge is extremely valuable for any professional coach and this should stand him in good stead.
The most important factor for his appointment has to be continuity.
DHL Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson has emphasized:
It is paramount that our DHL Stormers coaching team work with the young upcoming players and that continuity within the union with coaches and players must be aligned for the sake of the DHL Stormers.
We don’t ever want lose the DHL Stormers link to Western Province in the Currie cup and so we must ensure that there is an alignment always. We must build continuity within our structures from the bottom to the top, I don’t want us to lose that, that’s part of our DNA as a region.
Levy has been a part Dobson’s coaching staff in the United Rugby Championship this past 4 seasons and will definitely bring continuity with the style of play, the DNA and the players will feel comfortable with a familiar voice. The players, fans. and public also respect Levy, so he will be supported, and appreciated by everyone.
Big opportunity for the young players and creating depth at the same time for the DHL Stormers
After the disappointing DHL Stormers campaign, which concluded recently in may against Glasgow Warriors. Several of the DHL Stormers (6 players) joined up with the Springboks for the International season. DHL Stormers other remaining squad players which Consists of 33 to 40 players will go on a 2 month (8 week) compulsory break. Levy will have the opportunity to work with other remnaining exciting youngsters at the union like, Imad khan, Jurie Mathee, Zachary Porthen, Keagan Blackenberg, Gary Porter, Jonny Roche and Luke Burger to name few.
This will ensure they build depth (Widen the net) for the DHL Stormers for next season as these players have a bright future at the union. Other experienced players like Former Springboks Courtnall Skosan and Scarra Ntubeni will play a big role in terms of leadership and experience. Jean Luc Du Plessis will also form part of that experienced group as well and is expected to be one of the Western Province big game drivers.
The main objective must be to qualify for a Semi final
Over the past 3 years, the DHL Western Province have failed to make the semifinals with various coaches at the helm. Jerome Paarwater was in charge until 2022. In 2023 and 2024 the DHL Stormers coaches rotated throughout the 2 years and unfortunately, it failed miserably.
This was simply embarrassing and unacceptable for one of the biggest rugby unions in South Africa not to qualify for a semifinal. Levy’s main goal must thus be to ensure they make the semifinals and become competitive. This is non-negotiable as Western Province rugby needs to be strong, competitive and be the leaders in South African Rugby.
The overall union is in a better position with proper stability from the new owners and the union is no longer under administration. There is plenty of positivity all around and they have to compete. There will be no excuses this season and Levy will hopefully guide his troops to a semifinal berth and even perhaps even a trophy.
