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Cape Town - The Stormers have confirmed a new role for former assistant coach Paul Treu.
In a statement released on their website, the Stormers said Treu will be the new Performance and Innovation Manager.
In his new role Treu will provide support to WP Rugby's coaches by applying current and scientific knowledge to the planning and preparation of all teams.
Treu was the subject of much controversy towards the end of 2018 when he accused the Stormers coaching staff, led by head coach Robbie Fleck, of discrimination.
However, an independent review cleared Fleck and the management team of any wrongdoing.
The Stormers also announced that John Dobson will take over as head coach from Fleck after this year's Super Rugby competition.
The Cape franchise also confirmed departure of Director of Rugby Gert Smal to Toyota Verblitz in Japan. Smal will leave the Stormers at the end of March. His roles and responsibilities will be collectively handled by the CEO (Paul Zacks), the Senior Professional Head Coach (Fleck and Dobson) and the High Performance Manager (Greg Hechter).
Zacks thanked Smal for his invaluable contributions to Western Province Rugby through the years.
"It has been an absolute privilege to work with Gert Smal who has played such a big role here at WP both on and off the field for many years and he leaves with our very best wishes for his future," he said.
Smal commented: "I would like to say thank you to the CEO and the Board for entrusting me over the years as Director of Rugby at Western Province. The decision to leave was not taken lightly. I wish only the best to all the coaches, the players and all the employees at WP and hope and trust that the franchise will go from strength to strength."
Meanwhile, the Stormers have also confirmed their management for the 2019 season.
Riefaat Jappie (Strength and Conditioning Coach), Norman Laker (Defence Coach), and Dawie Snyman (Assistant Coach - Backs) come into the set-up, joining head coach Fleck, Russell Winter (Assistant Coach - Forwards), Human Kriek (Technical Analyst) and Team Manager Chippie Solomon.
Jappie has come through the system having first joined WP Rugby five years ago on an internship, while Laker and Snyman have both proven themselves over a number of seasons with Western Province and as a result have been integrated into the Stormers management this season as part of the succession planning.
Snyman will work closely with Paul Feeney, who will still be involved with coaching the team’s skills and exits, to ensure a smooth transition once the New Zealander finishes his contract in Cape Town at the end of the current Super Rugby season.
The re-deployment of Laker and Snyman from the 2018 SuperSport Rugby Challenge management creates an important pathway and opportunities for a new-look SuperSport Rugby Challenge coaching team.
The experienced Jerome Paarwater has been appointed as the new Western Province Head Coach for the SuperSport Rugby Challenge and will be supported by Nazeem Adams (Assistant Coach - Backs), Rito Hlungwani (Assistant Coach - Forwards), Chris October (Defence Coach), Naasier Parker (Strength and Conditioning Coach), Elliot Hanabe (Technical Analyst) and Team Manager Cassiem Barnes.
"The new structure provides a foundation for a motivated and wholly transformed SuperSport Rugby Challenge coaching and management team and it is great to see our home-grown coaches step up and I look forward to seeing them perform at the elite level," said Zacks.
While both the Stormers and the Western Province SuperSport Rugby Challenge teams will have their respective management teams, there will also be certain specialist coaches available to work with both sides in order to make the most of the coaching resources within WP Rugby. Dobson (Breakdowns), Feeney (Skills and Exits), Gareth Wright (Kicking) and, on a consultative basis, Hanyani Shimange will provide specialist input to both professional teams.
"This new structure means that players will get more individual attention, while we continue to support and develop our coaches to build quality, motivated and transformed coaching and playing teams for the future," added Zacks.
