Johannes Nicolaas 'Johan' Ackermann (born 3 June 1970) is a South African professional rugby union coach and former player. He played as a lock during his playing career between 1995 and 2007. He is currently the head coach at Red Hurricanes.

Johan Ackermann
Full nameJohannes Nicolaas Ackermann
Date of birth (1970-06-03) 3 June 1970 (age 54)
Place of birthBenoni, South Africa
Height1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)
Weight115 kg (18 st 2 lb; 254 lb)
SchoolHoërskool Brandwag
Notable relative(s)Ruan Ackermann (son)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1995–1996 Blue Bulls 45 (15)
1996 Bulls 12 (0)
1999–2001 Golden Lions 31 (20)
2000–2001 Cats 24 (0)
2001–2002 Northampton Saints 4 (0)
2003–2005 Griquas 32 (5)
2004–2008 Sharks 27 (10)
2006–2007 Sharks (Currie Cup) 12 (10)
Correct as of 25 June 2014
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1996–2007 South Africa 13 (0)
Correct as of 25 June 2014
Coaching career
Years Team
2013–2016 Golden Lions
2013–2017 Lions
2017–2020 Gloucester
2020–2022 Red Hurricanes
2023– Urayasu D-Rocks

Playing career

edit

In 2007, Ackermann became the oldest Springbok to play for the national side, at the age of 37. After the 2007 World Cup in France, he was recalled to the Springbok squad to play against the Barbarians. This was his last outing as an international player.[citation needed]

Ackermann bowed out of professional rugby on a winning note on 1 March 2008, when the Sharks defeated the Bulls 29-15 at Loftus Versfeld. He became the oldest player ever in Super Rugby history at age 37 years, 272 days.[citation needed]

Coaching career

edit

Ackermann was the forwards coach of the Lions in Super Rugby under head coach John Mitchell, but after Mitchell left the Union, he took over. He has seen success as coach of the Union including winning the SARU Coach of the Year award in 2014, his first year as head coach. He took over as head coach of the Lions Super Rugby and the Golden Lions Currie Cup sides in 2013.[citation needed]

He was appointed as the head coach of English Premiership side Gloucester prior to the 2017–18 season.[1]

He left Gloucester at the end of June 2020 to become head coach at Japanese side Red Hurricanes[2] He was replaced at Gloucester by George Skivington.[3]

Personal

edit

Ackerman is married, with two sons and a daughter.[4] He is a strong Christian.[5]

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "Johan Ackermann named as Gloucester Rugby Head Coach" (Press release). Gloucester Rugby. 3 April 2017. Archived from the original on 3 April 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
  2. ^ "Johan Ackermann: Gloucester head coach leaves to join Red Hurricanes". BBC Sport. 15 May 2020. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  3. ^ "Gloucester Rugby announce the appointment of George Skivington as Head Coach". Gloucester Rugby. 27 June 2020. Archived from the original on 5 September 2020. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
  4. ^ Iles, Robert (18 August 2018). "Johan Ackermann on one year at Gloucester and feeling at 'Holm". GloucestershireLive. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  5. ^ "Gloucester hoping Johan Ackermann can work another miracle | The Breakdown". the Guardian. 1 November 2017. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
edit