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Former Japan captain Lappies Labuschagné returns to Grey College as U15 coach

The 37-year-old, who captained Japan at the 2019 Rugby World Cup, will coach defence for the school's U15 side in Bloemfontein.

By RuckBee Newsroom1 min read
A coach in a navy tracksuit crouches in a defensive stance while young players copy him on artificial grass inside a training hall.
AI illustration

Lappies Labuschagné, who captained Japan at a Rugby World Cup, is going back to the Bloemfontein school he attended as a pupil. He will coach defence for the U15 team at Grey College.

He is one of several new faces on the coaching staff. His appointment is among a number of changes made by Wessel du Plessis, Grey College's new director of rugby. The school's U15 teams will also be coached by, among others, Nelio de Sa, who played forward for Portugal, and Chase Morison, an assistant coach at the Shimlas.

The 37-year-old arrives with plenty of Test experience. He played 19 Tests for Japan and captained the Brave Blossoms, including at the 2019 Rugby World Cup. He was also in Japan's squad for the 2023 tournament.

His professional career started with the Cheetahs in 2011. He made his 100th appearance for the Spears in February and retired earlier in 2026.

Labuschagné and the other new coaches join a school with a strong record of producing Springboks. Grey College has produced 49, the second-most of any South African school. Only Paul Roos, with 56, has produced more.

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