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He served rugby in various capacities for four decades, most notably as the Springbok coach under Carel du Plessis and Nick Mallett (1997 to 1999), with Jake White (2004 to 2006) and again in 2008 and 2009 with Peter de Villiers.
Hailing from Paarl in the Western Cape, Petersen was a stalwart of the former South African Rugby Union and served as coach and president of the Lower Paarl Rugby Club after beginning his administrative career as club president of the South Cape Teachers’ Training College. Starting in 1978, he began a 10-year term as president of the Paarl Rugby Union, which was affiliated with SARU.
Petersen became vice president of the Boland Rugby Union in 1986 until the sport’s unification in 1992, when he was elected to the executive committee of the South African Rugby Football Union, the forerunner of today’s SA Rugby.
He continued to be involved at the provincial level, leading both the Boland senior team and the Under-19s in the 1990s and assuming his first national position as assistant coach for the Springbok team on their tour of the UK and Ireland in 1994.
He subsequently led South Africa’s ‘A’ team on a similar tour of the UK and Ireland in 1996 and was promoted to national team leadership in 1997, serving until the final of the Rugby World Cup in 1999 when he was part of the bronze medal. -Winning management team.
He resumed the role for three years under White in 2004 and again with De Villiers for the 2008 year-end tour, initially as an interim, which ran throughout 2009. He was serving as Vice President of the Boland Rugby Union at the time.
“Arthob had a long and distinguished career serving rugby in his beloved Boland and at the highest level,” SA Rugby President Mark Alexander said in a statement.
“He worked for the game during the fighting era and was immediately taken to the highest circles at the time of unity and always brought a measured and reassuring influence.”
“His contribution to rugby was immense and leaves a legacy of selfless service to the game that grew through the amateur years and continued into the professional era with the same selfless service and dignity. His example was one we would all do well to follow.
“SA Rugby’s condolences go out to his family and many friends at this sad time.”
