As Maties Rugby senior men’s head coach Kabamba Floors’ three-year contract approaches its end in July, both Stellenbosch University (SU) and Floors have remained tight-lipped about whether he will stay on as coach or be replaced.
“The conclusion of a contract does not automatically result in an extension – it triggers a structured review and, where applicable, a formal recruitment process to ensure alignment with the programme’s strategic objectives,” said Drikus Hancke, head of Maties Rugby.
The recruitment process for a new head coach is considered in line with human resources (HR) procedures, and suitably qualified candidates – including the current coach – can apply, said Hancke.
As the head of Maties Rugby, Hancke is responsible for the strategic planning, development and management of the Maties Rugby programme.
Maties Rugby head coach Kabamba Floors’ three-year contract expires at the end of July, as per SU’s contract cycle. The appointment of a new head coach will undergo a formal review and recruitment process in line with Stellenbosch University’s HR procedures. PHOTO: Kuhle Mangana
Floors stepped into his role as head coach in July 2023, and led the FNB Maties to one Varsity Cup final in 2025, in which they lost 44-21 to the University of Cape Town’s FNB Ikey Tigers. In the 2026 competition, Maties suffered a hard knock in the semi-finals, losing 50-10 against the North-West University (NWU) FNB Eagles, who sealed their spot in the final.
A Varsity Cup supporter that wanted to remain anonymous because they are in the sports industry said, “Last season [Maties] reached the final, but if you look critically at the performance, they weren’t dominating performances. Maties has been at the top for a long time, and now [the] majority of the teams have caught up to that standard.”
The supporter believes that the players are not developed enough to compete at the highest level under pressure when it is crucial to win, like in the finals or semi-finals.
“As another team, I would not be intimidated to play Maties [now] as it used to be back then,” said the supporter.
The FNB Maties faced a big defeat in the 2026 Varsity Cup semi-finals against FNB NWU, where the final score was 50-10, denying Maties a spot in the final. PHOTO: Kuhle Mangana
According to Hancke, the criteria Maties Rugby uses to appoint a new coach are aligned to both SU’s requirements and the needs of a high-performance rugby programme.
Hancke added that some of these things included coaching competence at a high-performance level, developing student-athletes by encouraging a balance in sports and academics, as well as alignment with transformation and inclusivity objectives. Strong organisational planning and communication capabilities are amongst the criteria.
“Ultimately, the appointment must support both immediate competitiveness and long-term sustainability,” said Hancke.
A new head coach appointment is on the cards for Maties Rugby, with Stellenbosch University saying the appointment must support both immediate competitiveness and long-term sustainability. PHOTO: Kuhle Mangana
According to the SA Rugby Magazine, former Bulls backline coach Chris Rossouw is a strong contender to replace Floors.
Hancke stated that there is a formal recruitment process for all coaching appointments, and “once the process is concluded, the appointment will be communicated through the appropriate university channels”.
When SMF News approached Kabamba Floors for comment, he said he was not prepared to speak to the media at this stage.