Matt Proudfoot

Matthew Proudfoot (born 30 January 1972) is a South African rugby union coach and former player who represented Scotland. He was the head coach of the Leopards until May 2025.

He was an assistant coach with South Africa, winning the 2019 World Cup. In January 2020 he became forwards coach for England, and left at the end of 2022. He had a coaching spell at Stellenbosch University before joining Namibia as their forwards coach for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

He played for Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh Rugby, and won four caps for Scotland between 1998 and 2003.

Playing career

Hy played for DF Malan. Proudfoot played in the Vodacom Cup and then the Currie Cup for the Leopards after which he moved to Scotland to play for Melrose.

Proudfoot then played for Edinburgh Rugby. He won 3 international caps while with Edinburgh, before returning to South Africa.

Injury forced him into semi-retirement but he still played for the Leopards and the Blue Bulls. Glasgow Warriors coach Hugh Campbell persuaded him to return to full-time Scottish professional rugby.

In 2003 he returned to Scotland to play for Glasgow Warriors. Despite being Scottish-South African, he speaks Afrikaans fluently,

He made his debut for Scotland in 1998 against Fiji. He was capped 4 times for the national team finishing with a cap against Ireland in 2003.

Coaching career

Proudfoot coached the forwards at Western Province, Stormers, North-West University and Kobelco Steelers in Japan. where he contributed to the Springboks winning the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

In January 2020 Proudfoot joined England as forwards coach ahead of the 2020 Six Nations. until his replacement in May 2025.