Decorated South Western Districts Super League coach Ricardo Beukes is back where it all started a quarter of a century ago.
The 50-year-old has been appointed head coach of the historic Multisure Evergreens Rugby Club, heralding the latest chapter in a career that has made him a revered figure in local rugby circles.
Although Beukes has been instrumental in the recent successes of A division sides like Crusaders, he is delighted to have returned to his roots at the Pacaltsdorp club.
He re-joined the Green Machine after a 22-year absence and immediately helped secure Multisure Corporation as a partner as the club began its hunt for a sixth A section title.
Besides their first team finishing top of the log in the B division in 2024 to regain their spot in the top tier, Evergreens have struggled to win major silverware in recent seasons.
The twin-coup of securing the talismanic Beukes and like-minded new sponsor is expected to yield big results as the club, one of South Africa’s oldest, seeks a return to its glory days.
Beukes’ career as an Evergreens player ended abruptly at the relatively young age of 27 when he opted to spend more time with his wife, who was pregnant at the time.
Experienced South Western Districts Super League coach Ricardo Beukes has joined the Multisure Evergreens for his second stint as head coach. Photo: Supplied
But the sport was far from done with him.
“It’s actually a funny story,” the affable coach said.
“About a year after I hung up my boots, I went down to the Evergreens fields. The B team’s coaches weren’t there at the time, so the guys asked me if I didn’t want to help out.”
Beukes, a rugby man through and through, did not need a second invitation to that party.
This “coincidence”, as he describes it, proved life-changing and in 2003 he was appointed head coach for the first time.
At the conclusion of his contract, he went on to enjoy a title-winning stint with Blanco United and served as assistant coach of Silverstars before going on an eight-year sabbatical.
In 2019, a mere 12 months after returning to coaching, he led Crusaders to the Super League A division title.
It was during this time that he met Multisure CEO Denton Goodford and the two clicked immediately. When he was appointed Evergreens coach for the second time in November, the businessman was among the first he called.
“I wanted him to get on board as I could see how his business would fit the Evergreens brand.”
While it is still early days, Beukes is excited by what he had seen so far.
“We are still putting pieces of the puzzle together, but I’m confident we are going to build something great here.”
The first team’s promotion to the A division within weeks of being relegated showed the resilience and talent within the club’s ranks of 120 registered players, Beukes said.
Goodford said the funeral cover provider had joined hands with Evergreens as it was one of the iconic rugby brands in the country and it could identify with its values and community-upliftment spirit.
This year’s Super League season gets underway on April 5 and the Multisure Evergreens will also feature in the Saldanha Super 8 Easter Tournament from April 17 to 21.