Pierre de Bruyn will take over as the new head coach of the Netherlands women’s cricket team on 1 August 2026. The Royal Dutch Cricket Association announced the appointment on Wednesday, confirming that the South African coach will replace the outgoing Neil MacRae.
MacRae will finish his two-year tenure by leading the Dutch team through their first-ever appearance at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup this summer before he moves to lead the Jersey men’s national side.
Key Coaching Transition for the Netherlands Women’s Team
Neil MacRae helped the Netherlands women’s team to reach their first major global tournament. He will remain in charge during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, which takes place in England and Wales from 12 June to 5 July 2026.
Once the tournament ends, Pierre de Bruyn will officially start his job on 1 August. De Bruyn is a very experienced coach who has worked in both men’s and women’s cricket. He has spent time coaching in South Africa, England, and Namibia. The KNCB hopes that De Bruyn can use his international experience to help the Dutch team grow even further in the coming years.
Neil MacRae is not leaving international cricket entirely. Instead, he is returning to Jersey to work as their director of cricket and head coach of the men’s national team. MacRae spent over ten years in Jersey before joining the Netherlands in early 2024. He said he is proud of what the Dutch players have achieved and wishes De Bruyn success in the next phase of their journey.
Who is Pierre de Bruyn?
Pierre de Bruyn (born 31 March 1977) is a South African former professional cricketer. He played domestic cricket for teams such as the Dolphins until his retirement in 2010. When his playing days were over he turned to coaching and soon gained a good reputation.
IIn 2016, De Bruyn became the head coach of Leicestershire County Cricket Club in England. However, his most famous achievement came while coaching the Namibian men’s national team. Under his guidance, Namibia qualified for the 2021 Men’s T20 World Cup. This was a huge moment for Namibian cricket because they had not reached that level of the tournament since 1996.
Most recently, De Bruyn has been working in women’s cricket in South Africa. Since April 2025, he has served as the head coach of the Fidelity Titans women’s team. His move to the Netherlands represents a step back into the international scene. De Bruyn stated that he is very excited to work with such a talented group of players who have shown great willpower to qualify for a major stage.
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Neil MacRae’s Legacy and Move to Jersey
Neil MacRae has been a vital part of the success of Dutch women’s cricket over the last two years. Under his leadership, the team improved steadily through European competitions and qualifying rounds. This hard work eventually led to them breaking through at the Global Qualifier earlier this year.
High Performance Director Ryan Cook thanked MacRae for his contribution. Cook noted that the team has been on an upward path since MacRae arrived. The first-ever qualification for a World Cup is the biggest proof of that progress.
Meanwhile, Jersey Cricket is happy to have MacRae back. Sarah Gomersall, the chief executive of Jersey Cricket, said MacRae knows their environment perfectly and has a great track record of developing players. His first big task in Jersey will be the European qualifying matches for the 2028 T20 World Cup next summer.
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Historic T20 World Cup Qualification
The Netherlands women’s team qualified for the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup following a successful qualification tournament in Nepal. A highlight of their campaign was a commanding 21-run win over the United States. That victory, for the first time in history, confirmed their place among the best teams in the world.
The Dutch side will go into the tournament as underdogs but they are growing in confidence. The squad is a blend of seasoned veterans and young players who showed their strength in the qualifiers. They will join a 12-team field playing at venues across England and Wales.
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