Anchin Klein hopes to bring glory to the Cheetah Queens after he joined the Free State team as its new coach. He has made a name for himself in women’s rugby and is looking to elevate his team to new heights.
Klein comes to the Free State Union with a wealth of experience, having begun his journey in women’s rugby in 1999. Fast-forward to 2024, and he helped lead the Bulls Daisies to back-to-back Women’s Premier Division titles. He says he is not only looking to share his experience and knowledge but also hopes to one day bring the ultimate glory to the newly promoted team.
“I believe everyone’s main goal is to win the premier division, but for now we take it one session at a time and the objective for this season is to reach and win the final. It will also be important for me to lay a solid foundation for the future through the establishment of proper structures, not just within how we want to play, but also for women’s rugby in general, from primary school up to the senior women’s team.”
He has been a beacon in the world of women’s rugby with over 20 years of experience. Klein has made it his mission to raise the profile of the game, female players, and its administrators. For this, he has become a leader in the sport and this is a title he doesn’t take lightly.
Bulls Daisies to back-to-back Women’s Premier Division titles.
“I have been in women’s rugby for more than two decades now and see myself as a leader in the space and feel proud to be and seen as one. It is important for us who have been serving the game for such a long time to share our experiences with the next generation and especially with upcoming female coaches and administrators.”
He has shared that in his time in women’s rugby has learnt some valuable lessons. Some of them are personal growth, teamwork, and communication as well as strategic thinking, leadership skills, and life skills. Klein says being in a leadership position in women’s rugby allows him to learn some important insights into various facets of the game.
“The key takeaways for me would be that effective leaders inspire greatness by embracing a leadership philosophy that embodies leading by example, empowering others, and staying humble.”
He goes on to say that fostering inclusivity to truly impact others. “Leaders lead by example, empower their teams, remain humble, and cultivate inclusive environments.”
“Women’s rugby provides a unique platform for leadership development, teaching valuable skills transferable to all aspects of life.”
So how does he conduct himself as a leader in these circumstances, to the sole and optimal benefit of the girls and women athletes for whom he is responsible?
“Treating female athletes with dignity, understanding, and sensitivity while fostering a culture of equality, diversity, and zero tolerance for discrimination is key to successfully working with female athletes.”
“It is also very important to demonstrate integrity, work ethic, and respect for the ladies and to adjust your coaching style to meet their individual needs and learning styles. There must be respect for athletes’ boundaries, privacy, and physical comfort is of and most importantly, and we as men must ensure we understand and respect their cultural backgrounds,” said Klein.
He added that authenticity plays a huge role in ensuring the above comes to fruition. “To successfully work with female athletes and get the best out of them, we need to be authentic, honest, and flexible. We need to be able to take ownership and accountability of situations and can manage both our own emotions and understand their emotions.”
Klein believes that the following steps need to be taken to assist girls and women to know and understand their rights and obligations.
“We need to constantly create awareness and educate women about their rights through capacity-building initiatives. I am also a strong believer in policy reform processes that develop and implement laws protecting the rights of women.”
The experienced rugby coach concluded that the likes of the SA Rugby’s Women’s High-Performance Manager Lynne Cantwell and Paula Lanco of World Rugby and Rugby Afrique’s Executive councils are among the people who have inspired and helped him in his overall career.
“There are a few (people) who played a huge role in my growth and development process besides the role my parents played in it. Paula Lanco from Kenya currently serving on World Rugby and Rugby Afrique’s Executive councils representing women’s rugby,” says Kleyn. “Basil Manuel, Gerwyn Alexander, Anthony Heugh and Denver Wannies played very big mentoring roles in my coaching journey, laying the foundation and creating the awareness of working with the person and not just the athlete.
“Over the last few years Lynne Cantwell has made a huge impression on me in the way she transformed women’s rugby in South Africa and, lastly, Su Carty is a leader in rugby who has consistently set the standard high and contributed to the growth of the game internationally,” Klein said.
Main Photo Caption: Anchin Klein’s wealth of experience in women’s rugby has seen the long-time coach appointed at the Free State’s newly promoted Cheetah Queens. All Photos: Cheetah’s Rugby
Photo 2 Caption: Klein comes to the Free State Union with a wealth of experience, having begun his journey in women’s rugby in 1999.
Photo 3 Caption: Fast-forward to 2024, and he helped lead the Bulls Daisies to back-to-back Women’s Premier Division titles.
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