SOUTH AFRICA'S new rugby coach Carel du Plessis yesterday appointed Arthob Petersen as the Springboks first non white team manager. Du Plessis added former ex test flanker Gert Smal as assistant coach as he set about replacing the coaching staff of his disgraced predecessor, Andre Markgraaff, who quit after admitting making racist remarks.

The 44 year old Petersen, manager of Boland, comes in for Markgraaff's appointee, Koos de Beer, while Smal, 36, replaces the assistant pairing of Nick Mallett and Hugh Reece Edwards.

"At a later stage, when we go into the Tri Nations series (against New Zealand and Australia) later - this year, and the end of year European tour, we may take on another assistant coach," du Plessis said.

Petersen, whose rugby involvement goes back 20 years, was elected to the South African Rugby Football Union (SARFU) executive committee in 1992 before becoming assistant manager during the Springboks' 1994 tour of Scotland, Ireland and Wales.