Legends Lead the Way — MJ Mentz and Others Ignite School Rugby

Photo: MJ Mentz - LinkedIn profile

Ermelo has produced its fair share of sporting legends — and Marthinus Johannes “MJ” Mentz is proudly one of them. A former learner of Hoërskool Ermelo (Class of 2000), MJ has gone from local fields to national stages, and now returns to Mpumalanga’s school rugby scene as the newly appointed Head of Rugby at Hoërskool Nelspruit.

Born in Ermelo, MJ’s rugby journey spans over a decade as both player and coach. He represented South Africa Sevens in 18 tournaments, including the 2010 Commonwealth Games, where the team earned bronze. After retiring, he coached the Pumas, leading them to their historic 2015 Vodacom Cup victory and later guiding their Currie Cup campaign.

Now, with years of top-tier experience behind him, MJ is set to shape the next generation — giving back the skills, discipline, and passion he developed over years of competition. 

He joins a rising number of seasoned professionals entering school rugby. Notably, Rudy Joubert, former Springbok assistant coach and technical advisor during the 1995 World Cup, recently took up the role of Director of Sport at Hoërskool Ermelo. Other rugby figures who have made similar moves include Naas Botha at Hoërskool Eldoraigne, Jannie du Plessis at Hoërskool Monument, Pieter Rossouw at Paarl Gimnasium, and Jano Venter at HTS Middelburg — all bringing invaluable professional insight to school rugby.