The biography of Jacques Nienaber, the South African head coach

The biography of Jacques Nienaber, the South African head coach

Grace Waruguru
February 18, 2024 at 5:42 AM

Jacques Nienaber is a world-class coach famous for leading the South African team in winning their fourth World Cup title in 2023. The South African coach earned global recognition and fame for his rugby prowess and leadership abilities. In this article, we delve into his personal and professional life and all the details of his life story.

Jacques Nienaber of Leincester
Jacques Nienaber is the head coach of Irish club Leinster. Photo: @jacnienaber (Modified by author)
Source: Twitter

Who is Jacques Nienaber? He is a South African national who has coached teams like Munster and Stormers of South Africa. The former physiotherapist transferred to the Irish club Leinster in 2023 and is already causing ripples. What do you need to know about Jacques Nienaber? Read on and find out.

Jacques Nienaber's profile and bio summary

Full name

Jacques Nienaber

Age

51 years old (As of 2024)

Date of birth

October 16th, 1972

Nationality

South African

Place of birth

Kimberley, Cape Province, South Africa

Marital status

Married

Spouse

Elmarie Nienaber

Children

Carlo, Lilo

Height

5 feet, 10 inches

Weight

89kgs

Hair colour

Brown

Eye colour

Brown

Education

University of the Free State

Profession

Physiotherapist, Professional rugby coach

Social media presence

X (Twitter)

What is Jacques Nienaber's age?

Jacques Nienaber in Dublin
Jacques Nienaber at the RDS Arena in Dublin in December 2023. Photo: Harry Murphy (Modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

Jacques Nienaber's biography shows that the rugby coach was born on October 16th, 1972, making him 51 years old (As of 2024). He was born in Kimberley, Cape Province in South Africa.

Jacques Nienaber's family

The sports personality has not disclosed the details of his parents and siblings. However, some online sources have stated that he grew up in a sports-loving family, likely suggesting that some of his relatives are sports people.

Education

Jacques attended Laerskool Riebeeckstad in Welkom before proceeding to Grey College until the 11th grade to advance his rugby skills. He later studied Physiotherapy at the University of the Free State.

Did Jacques Nienaber play rugby in school? As a student, Nienaber participated in track and field (800m and 1500m) races and cross country. He played rugby for fun with his friends but never took it up professionally. He played as a flanker.

Jacques Nienaber in October 23
Jacques Nienaber during the South Africa men's national rugby team announcement media conference at Salle Jeanne d'Arc on October 19, 2023, in Presles, France. Photo: Steve Haag (Modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

During an interview published in June 2023, Jacques advised students,

Work on your skills as much as you can. You can never have too many skills. You can’t spend too much time on skill development. Players with vision are always noticed. Look at Lionel Messi, for example. He has crossed the field 676 times in the FIFA World Cup final, identifying the spaces and opportunities around him. From an early age, develop the habit of constantly observing what is.

Who is Jacques Nienaber married to?

The 51-year-old is married to Elmarie Nienaber, whom he met at the university. She is a physiotherapist who runs her private practice. The couple has been together for over 20 years and has two children together, Carlo (son) and Lilo (daughter).

Career

After completing his tertiary education, Nienaber started working as a physiotherapist for the Free State Cheetahs in 1997. In 2004, he changed roles and served as a Strength and Conditioning coach for the same team, a position he held until 2007.

Jacques Nienaber's coaching career

Jacques Nienaber in Domont France
Jacques Nienaber during the South Africa captain's run at Stade des Fauvettes ahead of the Rugby World Cup 2023 final match on October 27, 2023. Photo: David Rogers (Modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

In 2008, Nienaber was appointed Director of Rugby for the Stormers and Western Province franchises and became the defence coach before the season started. In 2010, the Stormers finished second after the Currie Cup regular season and made it to the finals, losing to the South African Bulls.

Jacques' team had the best defensive record in the 2011 playoffs. He joined the national team's coaching staff in the same year for the 2011 Rugby World Cup. South Africa had the best defensive record in the pool stage before losing to Australia in the quarter-finals.

In 2012, the Stormers and Western Province attained the best defensive records in their various contests. The Stormers reached the semis of the Super Rugby competition, while Western Province won the 2012 Currie Cup. The coach later joined South African Rugby Union's (SARU) Mobi-Unit, a team that visited teams at all levels to share coaching knowledge.

At the end of 2014, Jacques joined the SARU coaching staff full-time. He served as the Munster defence coach from 2017 to 2020. He was promoted from assistant coach to head coach of the Springboks in January 2020 and played a significant role in the team's 2019 and 2023 Rugby World Cup wins.

Why is Jacques Nienaber leaving South Africa?

Jacques Nienaber in December 2023
Jacques Nienaber during a Leinster Rugby squad training session at UCD in Dublin. Photo: Harry Murphy (Modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

Where is Jacques Nienaber going? In April 2023, news of Jacques' departure from South Africa flooded the internet. He made the move after the October World Cup and moved to Ireland's Leinster, replacing Stuart Lancaster. His debut was in December 2023, when Leister defeated Connacht.

Discussing his transition, Jacques said in an interview,

From a work perspective, the challenge is massive. Both the demands from the coaches and the players as well, they are top international players that have won a lot of accolades, they’ll definitely keep you on your toes.

Who will replace Jacques Nienaber?

After his exit, the South African appointed Rassie Erasmus as head coach. He previously served as the team's Director of Rugby and will hold the position until 2027.

Jacques Nienaber's salary

According to online sources, former Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber is worth between $1 million and $5 million. The coach earns a salary, bonuses, and match wins, although the figure remains undisclosed. Top rugby coaches earn approximately $1 million annually, a rough estimate of what the South African earns.

Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber

Jacques Nienaber in October 2023
Jacques Nienaber poses with the Webb Ellis Cup during the South Africa Winners Portrait shoot on October 29, 2023, in Paris, France. Photo: Adam Pretty (Modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

Rassie and Jacques are long-time friends who have worked together for the better part of their careers. The two met in the early 90s during their military conscription days in the early 1990s before working together at the Free State Cheetahs. In 2016, Rassie became the Director of Rugby at Munster, and his partner worked under him as a defence coach. Some have described Jacques' current assignment as stepping out of Rassie's shadow to explore new opportunities.

Final word

Jacques Nienaber has grown through the ranks and earned professional experience in a field he had minimal training in. His focus and resilience have raised him to the top players in the sport, sought after by several franchises. The 51-year-old is already making moves in Ireland, and rugby lovers will look out for his subsequent achievements.

READ ALSO: How much do rugby players make?

Sports Brief published an article analyzing the salaries of professional rugby players in different countries and competitions. The popular sport has attracted millions of fans globally, but players reportedly earn less than other athletes. How much do these players make?

According to online sources, NRL (National Rugby League) athletes earn an estimated $282,000 annually. The top athlete in the league takes home approximately $1.25 million annually. In Europe, athletes earn about $62,014 yearly. Check out the above article for how much rugby players make worldwide.

Authors
Grace Waruguru photo
Grace Waruguru
Grace has over 4 years of experience in article writing and digital media content creation for various local and global brands. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication (Public Relations) from Daystar University, Kenya.