RUGBY: A New Coach for Washington's Super League Side

South African Pieter “Soon” Zeeman has been appointed the new head coach for Washington DC Super League side the Potomac Athletic Club (PAC).

Zeeman was most recently the assistant coach with the Blue Bulls in South Africa. His playing days were spent with Northern Transvaal and the South African Police team and included appearances for the Combined Services side.

PAC president, Tom Lyons, said the appointment gives the club impetus to improve on their 3-4 season in 2000. “Our program has had a long term commitment to obtaining highly qualified coaches, and Soon only furthers that trend. We believe coaching is one of the best rugby investments a club can make. It can lift all our players, from the Super League squad and the lower sides, to a higher level. It is also an important step in providing our players the best opportunity to get to the next level of US Rugby.

“"We have begun to really grow the coaching staff in hopes of providing all PAC players with the proper attention and to develop our younger players. With multiple teams playing in multiple locations each week, it’s important to have the right staff at our games on Saturdays and available for hands-on work during the week. We want our players to improve and compete at the top level of US Rugby and there is no doubt coaching is a key piece in achieving that goal," said Lyons.

Other coaching appointments at the club include Tom Walsh who coached Catholic University, ex-player Henry Feaunati, former Eagles reserve Graeme Thomson and former PAC captain Reza Amirkhalili.

PAC won the National Clubs Championship in 1995.