Zenay Jordaan aims to follow a glittering playing career with coaching success.
When Zenay Jordaan retired from playing after the Women’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, in 2022, she was her country’s most-capped player, had represented her country in six global tournaments and been named Springbok Player of the Year in 2013.
There was little more for Jordaan to achieve as a player, but she has plenty to learn and accomplish in her new role as assistant coach of Eastern Province Queens. Her participation in the Gallagher High Performance Academy will be an important part of that process.
“I am hoping that I can learn as much as possible about how to become a high performance coach and to grow into a well-shaped coach that can ultimately help and give back to other coaches,” Jordaan told World Rugby.
Jordaan’s passion for rugby came from her father, Wilfred, who would wake her early at their home on the Eastern Cape to watch matches on television.
She played for her primary school’s boys’ team and then joined the women’s team at her local club, Middleburg.
Jordaan trained to become a firefighter but she gave up that career when South Africa offered her one of the country’s first women’s professional contracts. It is a decision that she has never regretted.
“I realised when I started coaching for the first time how much I truly enjoyed sharing my knowledge and learning from other coaches,” she said.
“I enjoy being part of something so special, that I have played my entire life, and being granted the opportunity to help other players become better. I enjoy giving back.”