Johan Ackermann

For the Swedish fencer, see Johan Ackerman (fencer).

Johannes Nicolaas 'Johan' Ackermann (born 3 June 1970) is a South African professional rugby union coach and former player. He played as a lock during his playing career between 1995 and 2007. He is currently the head coach at Urayasu D-Rocks.

Johan Ackermann

Full name	Johannes Nicolaas Ackermann
Date of birth	(1970-06-03) 3 June 1970 (age 55)
Place of birth	Benoni, South Africa
Height	1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)
Weight	115 kg (18 st 2 lb; 254 lb)
School	Hoërskool Brandwag
Notable relative(s)	Ruan Ackermann (son)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 1995–1996 Blue Bulls 45 (15) 1996 Bulls 12 (0) 1999–2001 Golden Lions 31 (20) 2000–2001 Cats 24 (0) 2001–2002 Northampton Saints 4 (0) 2003–2005 Griquas 32 (5) 2004–2008 Sharks 27 (10) 2006–2007 Sharks (Currie Cup) 12 (10) Correct as of 25 June 2014 International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1996–2007 South Africa 13 (0) Correct as of 25 June 2014 Coaching career Years Team 2013–2016 Golden Lions 2013–2017 Lions 2017–2020 Gloucester 2020–2022 Red Hurricanes 2023– Urayasu D-Rocks

Playing career

In 2007, Ackermann became the oldest Springbok to play for the national side, at the age of 37. After the 2007 World Cup in France, he was recalled to the Springbok squad to play against the Barbarians. This was his last outing as an international player.^{[citation needed]}

Ackermann bowed out of professional rugby on a winning note on 1 March 2008, when the Sharks defeated the Bulls 29-15 at Loftus Versfeld. He became the oldest player ever in Super Rugby history at age 37 years, 272 days.^{[citation needed]}

Coaching career

Ackermann was the forwards coach of the Lions in Super Rugby under head coach John Mitchell, but after Mitchell left the Union, he took over. He has seen success as coach of the Union including winning the SARU Coach of the Year award in 2014, his first year as head coach. He took over as head coach of the Lions Super Rugby and the Golden Lions Currie Cup sides in 2013.^{[citation needed]}

He was appointed as the head coach of English Premiership side Gloucester prior to the 2017–18 season.^[1]

He left Gloucester at the end of June 2020 to become head coach at Japanese side Red Hurricanes^[2] He was replaced at Gloucester by George Skivington.^[3]

Personal

Ackerman is married, with two sons and a daughter.^[4] He is a strong Christian.^[5]

See also

• List of sportspeople sanctioned for doping offences