Hollywoodbets Sharks head coach John Plumtree has named a 65-man squad to do duty in the upcoming Vodacom United Rugby Championship that kicks off next week.
With a lengthy and demanding season ahead, incorporating the VURC, Investec Champions Cup and Springbok international commitments, squad depth is crucial to the team’s ambitions over the next nine gruelling months.
As such, the Carling Currie Cup proved a productive breeding group for developing young talent further – a stated commitment by the coaching staff – while the success of the Junior Boks in the World Rugby Under 20 Championship added further talent to the pool.
The mix of youth and experience can be a delicate balancing act, but in the Hollywoodbets Sharks case, the recent competitive environment the young players have been exposed to means they come into the VURC with plenty of experience.
The likes of Junior Boks Vusi Moyo (flyhalf), Matt Romao (loose forward), Jaco Willaims (wing/fullback) and Ceano Everson (scrumhalf), alongside Carling Currie Cup captain Nick Hatton and a host of players who showed their worth in a campaign that built strength and self-belief as it unfolded, adds not only depth so necessary in this competition, but quality to ensure the team’s competitiveness following their best campaign to date with a third-place finish and the SA Shield in the VURC 2024/25 season.
While the loss of a number of Springboks to the national cause in the next two months does pose certain challenges, the recruitment of new players as well as inbound depth on loan from other unions certainly does offset the demands on the playing and coaching staff.
“We have some injuries, particularly around lock with Corne Rahl and Emile van Heerden, with the latest being Siya Masuku, and Jordan Hendrikse who has been on the long-term injury list, so we have a few problems,” explains Plumtree.
“There are about nine URC players unavailable, along with the Springboks.
“But there is still a lot of quality within our team: we have some loan players, Cameron Dawson from the Toyota Cheetahs and Cebo Dlamini from Suzuki Griquas, along with a couple of new recruits, Eduan Swart and Ross Braude from the Airlink Pumas, two good players, and it’s good to have a relationship with Jimmy Stonehouse around helping us out with players and that’s added to our depth.”
Hollywoodbets Sharks VURC Squad
- Albie Bester
- Andre Esterhuizen
- Aphelele Fassi
- Bathobele Hlekani
- Bongi Mbonambi
- Bradley Davids
- Bryce Calvert
- Cameron Dawson
- Ceano Everson
- Cebo Dlamini
- Christie Grobbelaar
- Coetzee Le Roux
- Cornelus Rahl
- Deon Slabbert
- Dian Bleuler
- Dian Heunis
- Diego Appollis
- Eben Etzebeth
- Eduan Swart
- Edwill van der Merwe
- Emile van Heerden
- Emmanuel Tshituka
- Ethan Bester
- Ethan Hooker
- Fezokuhle Mbatha
- Francois Venter
- Grant Williams
- Hakeem Kunene
- Hanro Jacobs
- Jaco Williams
- Jaden Hendrikse
- Jannes Potgieter
- Jason Jenkins
- Jean Smith
- Jordan Hendrikse
- Jurenzo Julius
- Lee-Marvin Mazibuko
- Litelihle Bester
- Lukhanyo Am
- Makazola Mapimpi
- Marnus Potgieter
- Marvin Orie
- Matt Romao
- Mawande Mdanda
- Meno Barnard
- Nick Hatton
- Ox Nche
- Phatu Ganyane
- Phepsi Buthelezi
- Phikolomzi Sobahle
- Ross Braude
- Ruan Dreyer
- Simphiwe Matanzima
- Simphiwe Ngobese
- Siya Masuku
- Siyamthanda Kolisi
- Thomas Dyer
- Tiaan Fourie
- Tinotenda Mavesere
- Trevor Nyakane
- Vincent Koch
- Vincent Tshituka
- Vusi Moyo
- Willem van den Hever
- Yaw Penxe