In South Africa, the surname Kriel is etched into Springbok folklore.
Jesse Kriel, an 87-Test veteran and two-time Rugby World Cup winner, even captained the team last year. His twin brother, Dan, carved out his own professional path at centre for the Seattle Seawolves in Major League Rugby in the US, having previously represented the Lions, Bulls, and Western Province.
There are other Kriels in the domestic game too – Bulls stalwart David and Lions flyer Richard – though they are not related to the twins. Now another Kriel is beginning to make his mark, albeit away from the try line.
Matthew Kriel, three years younger than Jesse and Dan, has been appointed head of recruitment for the Mzansi Rugby League (MRL), a privately owned competition preparing for its inaugural season. The appointment follows the league’s recent announcement of former referee Rasta Rasivhenge as head of player safety and welfare, and the launch of its MzansiGuard welfare framework.
A former Maritzburg College pupil, Kriel joined Northwood Crusaders in 2017 and became a mainstay for the “Good Guys”.
But like many talented players across the country, he never quite broke through to the professional ranks. That experience shapes his new mission.
“South Africa has an extraordinary depth of rugby talent,” Kriel said. “But the system simply can’t catch everyone. If you get injured at the wrong time or in the wrong place geographically, your window of opportunity can close very quickly. The MRL gives us the opportunity to reopen those windows.”
MRL co-founder and chief commercial officer Calvin Smith believes that perspective is central to the league’s recruitment model. “Matthew understands the margins,” Smith said.
“He knows how small the difference can be between being seen and being missed. That insight is invaluable when you’re building a fair and credible recruitment system.”
Kriel will oversee talent identification across all 16 MRL regions, casting a wide net that stretches from schools rugby and Varsity Cup competitions to club structures and overlooked environments. The brief also includes South Africans playing in emerging rugby markets abroad, from Romania and Georgia to Russia.
For the latest Kriel on the rugby scene, the goal is clear: ensure fewer players fall through the cracks.
The MRL is slated for a 2027 launch, with a match between the Jozi Wildcats and Durban Hyenas on July 5, 2027 kicking off the programme, according to the MRL website. Club trials are set to commence in June 2026, with the registration window currently open.
