Dewald Senekal announced as assistant coach for New England Free Jacks

Joining Ryan Martin on the coaching staff for the 2025 MLR season is South African Dewald Senekal. Senekal specializes in the arts of forward play and is recognized as one of the world’s leading lineout and maul experts.

“I am extremely excited to join the Free Jacks and build on the strong work that has been completed to date,” said Senekal. “I have been very impressed with how the franchise has gone about building a great rugby program and environment, which I look forward to contributing to. A great year is ahead, and I’m looking forward to getting stuck in with everyone involved.” 

Image Credit: GAIZKA IROZ. Image Featuring: Dewald Senekal playing for Stade Francis

Senekal took a non-traditional route to his career in professional rugby. A professional Cricketer until the age of 23, it wasn’t until 24 that he started playing rugby. It did not take long for the 6’6” 270 lb. lock to get noticed once he made the transition, spending stints with South African professional sidesthe Pumas, Cheetahs, and Lions before getting an opportunity to venture to France where he played well over 100 top-level matches for French sides Bayonne, Agen, and Toulon. The physically imposing forward would draw on his many experiences within the engine rooms of these giant French clubs to launch his coaching career.

Dewald transitioned seamlessly into coaching, initially taking the role of Forwards Coach with Bayonne at the end of his playing career from 2015 to 2017. Senekal would experience success early on, leading FC Grenoble to promotion to the Top 14 in one season as joint-Head Coach (2017/18). Since, Senekal has held forwards coach positions at Stade Francais under Heyneke Meyer (2019), Connacht (2021 – 2023), and Oyonnax (2023 – 2024). Currently, Senekal is an Assistant Coach with Benetton Treviso in the United Rugby Championship as a collision and breakdown specialist, while assisting with the set piece.

Image Featuring: Dewald Senekal Coaching Stade Français. Image Credit: Romain Biard

“There is a clear fit between our environment and Dewald,” said General Manager Tom Kindley. “As a coach with a proven track record of connecting deeply with and caring deeply for his players and colleagues, Dewald will gel nicely with our playing group who have a huge appetite to grow. We share a mutual vision of what success looks like off the field – highly connected, hard working, and tons of enjoyment.”

“On researching Dewald, the same themes kept coming up. It is clear he is an extremely hard working, detailed, engaging and adaptable practitioner. The set piece is an area we know we can make significant improvements in, and as one of the premier up-and-coming forwards coaches in the world we are confident he will be instrumental in our evolution.”