Rugby Union

From crash survivor to Army rugby boss: Gerhard Wessels' incredible second chance

14th September 2026 at 2:18pm

Staff Sergeant Gerhard Wessels has been appointed the new Army Rugby Union Senior Men's Head Coach and he's come a long way to get there

Growing up in South Africa, Gerhard Wessels had one dream: to become a professional rugby player.

Then, aged 19, he and his brother were involved in a car crash and his sporting ambitions were shattered.

He recounts the aftermath of the accident, saying: "I suffered sever leg injuries. I cracked my back. Both my shoulders were broken.

"I got told by the doctors that they recommend me not to play rugby or contact sports again."

A year later and having travelled to England, he was employed as a farm labourer in Cambridgeshire. The physical nature of Wessels' work convinced him that he'd recovered enough from his injuries to return to the rugby pitch.

A stint at Newmarket rugby club followed, and with no ill effects Wessels moved to National Division Two outfit Cambridge. It was there he experienced a sliding doors moment.

With his visa running out and a return to South Africa just months away, a teammate suggested Wessels join the British Army as he was a member of the Commonwealth.

"I never knew anything about that," Wessels confesses. "I went back to get my passport, book an appointment with the Army career office in Cambridge and never looked back."

Wessels enlisted into the Army, joining the Royal Engineers in 2005. His prowess as a rugby player soon saw him earn his first senior Army cap in 2007, going on to represent the red shirt in capped fixtures on a further 26 occasions.

Hanging up his boots from playing in 2016, Wessels wasted little time switching to a fruitful coaching career. Leading the Sappers to five Corps finals in six seasons and securing three consecutive Corps Championships cemented his reputation to gel teams into successful sides.

Since 2023 Wessels has been a key member of the Army senior men's coaching team, embracing a variety of roles including backs, attack and defence coach.

Now serving as a Staff Sergeant and elevated to one of the most prestigious roles in military sport, Wessels is desperate to tap into the determination that saw him overcome such a significant setback in his formative playing days and mastermind Inter Services glory.

He said: "Army rugby has played a massive part in my life as a player as a coach.

"And to be given this opportunity to lead the Senior side will be a massive honour for me."