Former South African cricketer Pierre de Bruyn is set to become the new coach of the Netherlands women’s cricket team starting from August 1. De Bruyn will be taking over from Neil MacRae, who will be returning to coach the Jersey men’s side after the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in England from June 12 to July 5.
De Bruyn, who played professionally in South Africa until 2010 before transitioning into coaching, has an impressive coaching background. He previously coached the English county side Leicestershire in 2016 and led Namibia’s men to their first Men’s T20 World Cup qualification in 2021. Most recently, he was the head coach of the Titans women’s team in South Africa from April 2025.
Expressing his excitement about joining the Dutch squad, de Bruyn commended the team’s talent and qualification for the international stage. He thanked Titans Cricket for their support and expressed his eagerness to work with the Netherlands team. Meanwhile, outgoing coach MacRae praised the Netherlands women’s team for their hard work and dedication that led to their qualification for the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup.
The Netherlands secured their spot in the upcoming Women’s T20 World Cup through a qualification tournament in Nepal earlier this year. They are scheduled to compete against Bangladesh, India, Australia, South Africa, and Pakistan in Group 1 matches on June 14, 17, 20, 25, and 27, respectively.
Ryan Cook, the KNCB High Performance Director, acknowledged Neil’s leadership in the team’s progress and expressed gratitude for his contributions. Cook also highlighted the positive trajectory of the women’s team and welcomed Pierre de Bruyn as a highly regarded international coach with a successful track record, aiming to elevate the team to new heights.
