About The Rugby Factory

The Rugby Factory is a global rugby talent platform — a single home for players, coaches, scouts, and clubs to connect, grow, and discover opportunities. Meet the co-founders behind TRF.

Leadership Team

Jaco de Vry — Co-Founder & Director

Jaco brings expertise in project management and civil engineering to the organisation. A dedicated co-founder with a meticulous and structured approach, his background combines professional rigour with genuine enthusiasm for rugby and a commitment to ethical business practices.

Bertus Els — Co-Founder & Director

Bertus holds electrical engineering credentials and focuses on developing people's capabilities. Driven by a passion for empowering people and helping them reach their full potential, he blends technical knowledge with interpersonal commitment.

Stephan Joubert — Co-Founder & Director

A quantity surveyor in construction, Stephan applies analytical methods to complex information management. As a former varsity rugby player, he champions uniting diverse rugby-related data sources into a single, accessible platform to benefit the sport broadly.

John Steyn — Co-Founder & Director

John specialises in cybersecurity and digital protection. A former club rugby player with fitness interests, he advocates for equal opportunity and fairness both on and off the field, bringing security expertise to the organisation's operations.