South African pro Jacques du Toit joins Corbridge Cricket Club

Jacques, who has played professionally for Leicestershire amongst others, will join Corbridge Cricket Club as its professional club coach and as a player for the 2025 season after spending time with the club as a team coach throughout 2024. 

Jacques du Toit (Image: Supplied) In his new role, the club expects Jacques to play an 'integral' part in its future.

After confirming that Jacques had signed for the club as a coach and player for the upcoming 2025 season, chairman John Maude expressed his delight.

He said: "The club has recognised the amount of talent and experience that Jacques will bring with him.

"This investment in the dual role of player and coach is for the benefit of the whole club.

"We believe it’s a massive boost for the local cricketing region to be able to have a player of his stature and experience coaching the cricketers of the future.

From his base at the club, Jacques and his company Pro Performance Sports Coaching will also offer various levels of cricket coaching from group sessions to bespoke individual sessions for players of any level.

Jacques and fellow coach Katie Chomse (Image: Supplied) Jacques said:  "I have enjoyed working with Corbridge Cricket Club this year and am excited to be joining a forward-looking club to help develop cricket across the club. A new and welcome challenge in my own sporting career.

Amongst those welcoming Jacques to Corbridge is the club's first-team captain Chris Fowler who said that the move is more evidence of the club's upward trajectory.

He said: "The excitement around the club for the signing of such a high-profile cricketer is palpable. As the captain, I personally cannot wait to tap into the wealth of experience that Jacques clearly has.

"It can only be a positive for the whole of the club and the region to have such a player representing our club.

A youth cricket session at Corbridge CC (Image: Supplied) "I would also like to thank all the people behind the scenes at the club, who have had the foresight and direction to be able to make this happen."

Jacques' new role at Corbridge Cricket Club also comes as the club is experiencing a surge in its player base, with it currently boasting 220 playing members, 175 of which are under the age of 15.

This includes the club's rapidly developing women's team which already produced a cricketing star in Lizzie Scott who has played for the Oval Invincibles in The Hundred.

"It is a really exciting time to be around the club at the moment.

"Ever since the flood in 2015, we have invested in the ground, new practice nets, so the facilities are fantastic.

England legend Paul Collingwood opening the new practice nets in March. (Image: Supplied) "On the playing side, we have always had the number but we really want to encourage young people to develop their cricket.

"We want all of our young players to keep on improving their own abilities and improve their confidence and we're hoping that Jacques as well as our other coaches will help that happen.

"We have got a lot of players coming through, boys and girls, and the game is really developing in Norththumerland and it is great. It makes a real difference at the club."