Nick Mallett is a Professional Motivational speaker and TV Commentator and is one of the leading authorities on Rugby and has coached not only the Springboks but most recently Italy.
Arguably, South Africa’s most successful rugby coach ever, Nicholas Vivian Howard Mallett was born on October 30, 1956 in Hertfordshire, England, taking a middle name from his mother Vivienne.
He came to Africa, being only six weeks old, when his family re-located to Zimbabwe. His father Anthony took up a post as Headmaster of Peterhouse School, just outside of Harare.
Nick came to South Africa (age seven) when his father accepted the post of Headmaster at Bishop’s School in Cape Town. His father didn’t play rugby, distinguishing himself rather in cricket, both for the MCC and Kent.
Nick played his first game of rugby shortly after, at the age of eight, for the Western Province Preparatory School Under Nines.
Nick Mallett position was Eighth-man and it wasn’t long till he marked himself as a player of considerable promise. He attended St Andrew’s College in Grahamstown before moving on to UCT where he qualified for a Bachelor of Arts majoring in English and history (1975 – 77) followed by a Higher Diploma of Education (1978).
By this time Nick Mallett had already established a pattern where, throughout his education, he excelled in both sporting and academic fields. At St Andrew’s he played 1st team rugby and cricket, while also excelling in athletics and swimming.
Mallett, who won two Springbok caps as an Eighthman in 1984, becoming the 541st Springbok when he made his debut against South America and Spain at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on October 20, scoring a try in the Springboks 32 – 15 victory.
He played regularly for Western Province between 1977 and 1985, winning the Currie Cup in 1982, 1983, 1984 and 1985, and has 15 years experience as a first class coach. Mallett, who has 15 years experience as a first class coach, has coached the senior Boland Provincial team with great success in the 1997 season. He was also incumbent coach of the Emerging Springboks.
From 2005 – 2007 Nick was Director of Western Province Rugby where he initiated, developed and staffed the WP Rugby Institute in Stellenbosch, which has produced Etsebeth, Kitsoff, Hougaard, de Jong, Kolissi, Duvenagge and Koster and many other top professional rugby players.
From 2007 – 2011 he was the head coach of Italy. Highlights include, 14 best ever Italian results and first ever wins against Argentina away, Samoa and France!
2012: Nick is now back in South Africa and employed by Supersport as a rugby analyst and commentator.
Having coached for more than 25 years, Nick Mallett has decided to take a break from the stresses and strains of professional coaching, but wants to stay close to this great sport through the medium of TV. Nick Mallett is currently finding this very enjoyable and a great deal less stressful !
