Zacharia Francois "Swys" de Bruin started his coaching career in Durban with the Sharks Academy in 1996.
He made an immediate impact and was named as the Natal Wildebeest head coach for the 1998 Vodacom Cup, where he guided the side to a semi-final.
The following year he moved to Kimberley and became the Griquas head coach and help the side reach the final of the Vodacom Cup in 1999 and 2000.
In 2001 De Bruin coached the under-21 South African side.
De Bruin stuck with the Kimberley-based side until 2003, when he returned to Durban to head up the Sharks Academy, helping out with the Vodacom Cup, under 19 and under 21 sides.
In 2013 he joined the Lions coaching staff, as an assistant coach, at the time the Lions had been relegated out of the Super Rugby.
The Lions returned to Super Rugby in 2014 after they beat the Kings in a promotion-relegation match.
De Bruin and his head coach Johan Ackermann built a squad of talented players that made consecutive Currie Cup finals in 2014 and 2015, winning the latter.
In 2016 the Lions turned their Currie Cup success into Super Rugby success as they were the first South African side to play in a Super Rugby Final since 2012.
That season the Lions finished 2nd on the overall standings and were beaten in the final by the overall leaders the Hurricanes.
Swys De Bruin has been appointed to replace Golden Lions Rugby Union head coach Johan Ackermann who will join Gloucester Rugby
In July 2017 de Bruin was appointed as the Lions new head coach, replacing Johan Ackermann who joined Gloucester at the end of the 2017 Super Rugby season.
April 2019 saw him sign a new deal to remain head coach of the Lions for a further 2 years.
In October 2019, he left the Lions by mutual agreement and joined the Southern Kings as a coaching consultant.
Career
 |
South Africa Women Head Coach |
2024 - present |
 |
South Africa U20's Coach |
2001 - 2001 |
 |
Griquas Coach |
1999 - 2003 |
 |
Sharks Coach |
2004 - 2012 |
 |
Barbarians Coach |
2018 - 2018 |
 |
South Africa Coach |
2017 - 2019 |
 |
Golden Lions Coach |
2013 - 2019 |
 |
Lions Coach |
2013 - 2019 |
 |
Southern Kings Coach |
2019 - 2024 |
