Kings Polo Academy
I'm Gavin Chaplin
A Professional Polo Player, and Head Coach at Kings Polo Academy.
Born into a family of polo players, it was almost certain that South Africa’s Gavin Chaplin would go on ot have a long and storied career in polo. As the son of a polo player, Julian ‘Buddy Chaplin’, Gavin had some big shoes to fill from early on, but showed huge potential immediately, becoming one of the youngest players to ever win the South African Open Championship at the age of 17.
After turning professional at 20, Chaplin went on to play in Argentina, England and America and captained the South African national team, attaining a handicap of 7 goals.
When Chaplin retired, his love of polo kept him close to the sport as he started a new career as a coach in 1986, passing on his years of experience and expertise all around the world, coaching in Argentina, Australia, England, Egypt, Iran, Kenya, Zambia, Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania and Ethiopia as well as coaching the South African national team with whom he achieved a remarkable 98% win record across a five year stint. His achievements as a coach saw him dramatically change the fortunes of Jan Newman’s Wexford team, breaking their 23 game losing streak and taking them on a three year run. Elsewhere, he lead the 16-goal Ingwenya team to just five losses in three years.
Having coahed the likes of Natchi du Plessis (8 goals), Jean du Plessis (7 goals), Tom de Bruin (7 goals) and Chris Mackenzie (7 goals) various time in his career, Chaplin has managed to establish his reputation as one of the most gifted polo coaches in the world. A ferociously committed man who knows the ins-and-outs of the sport, Chaplin’s contributions to Kings Polo Club as head coach and a general advisor has been invaluable to not only the club, but the development of the sport in Egypt as a whole.
When Chaplin retired, his love of polo kept him close to the sport as he started a new career as a coach in 1986, passing on his years of experience and expertise all around the world, coaching in Argentina, Australia, England, Egypt, Iran, Kenya, Zambia, Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania and Ethiopia as well as coaching the South African national team with whom he achieved a remarkable 98% win record across a five year stint. His achievements as a coach saw him dramatically change the fortunes of Jan Newman’s Wexford team, breaking their 23 game losing streak and taking them on a three year run. Elsewhere, he lead the 16-goal Ingwenya team to just five losses in three years.
Having coahed the likes of Natchi du Plessis (8 goals), Jean du Plessis (7 goals), Tom de Bruin (7 goals) and Chris Mackenzie (7 goals) various time in his career, Chaplin has managed to establish his reputation as one of the most gifted polo coaches in the world. A ferociously committed man who knows the ins-and-outs of the sport, Chaplin’s contributions to Kings Polo Club as head coach and a general advisor has been invaluable to not only the club, but the development of the sport in Egypt as a whole.
