The Sharks Super 15 and Vodacom Cup squads reported for duty yesterday to get their pre-season training under way. Some holiday, huh?
The aim seems to be working on strength and conditioning at this stage, with the team doing all of their work in the gym, rather than on the training pitch. A solid 3-week push now, before the lads are given a bit of time off over the festive season, should lay some good groundwork for the gruelling season to come.
Reports from within the camp indicate that, apart from Conrad Hoffman, Meyer Bosman and Jacques-Louis Potgieter, no other new faces have been spotted. There is a welcome return to the Sharks XV squad for Rovers hooker Jody Jenneker, who spent a few years on the club scene since last playing for the Sharks in 2008. Jenneker was voted player of the tournament at the recent National Club Championships, where he featured out of position on the flank in the Rovers side that took the cup.
It has been reported that both Riaan Swanepoel and Rory Kockott – players whose contractual situation with the Sharks is still somewhat unclear – were both present, indicating that both are still with the Sharks, at least for now.
Awesome, I hope we just go from strenght to strenght. Go Sharks!!
Bom Samaai only new face at Newlands
The Sharks are truely the hooker factory of South Africa. The Black and White district have the hooker, the hoe, the whore, the prostitute and the hustler, namely Smith, Bissie, Burden, Cooper and now Jody. The question I pose is which player is the hooker? Which is the hoe? Etc etc? Any help
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 2) : for real? That’s a good move
@Mocho (Comment 3) : you’re out on a limb all on your own there, mate!
@robdylan (Comment 4) : I honestly think so too, but I spoke to someone yesterday who says the lads head neads to be hammered properly onto his shoulders(or neck for that matter)
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 6) : oh really? Interesting… good winger.
How big is he?
@robdylan (Comment 7) : 187 cm 90kgs
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 8) : wow – I figured him a bit smaller than that. Good buy, good buy
Roll on the Super 15 – Cant wait for the season to start!!! Great to see that Rory is still there – hope he stays. GO SHARKS GO GO GO!!!
I am looking forward to S15 after the turnaround by the Sharks this year.
Oh and good to see JJ back in a CC team, always thought the boy had some mongrel in him on the field even though im not his biggest fan off it
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 12) : well, not quite a CC team… more like Vodacom Cup
@robdylan (Comment 13) : Oh ja, but you are picking up what im putting down
Well John is in NY making his way to Biaritz and then London to watch the Boks
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 14) : I’m catching what you’re throwing, mate!
Any info on jacques engelbrecht?
Has jaco otto been contracted by a kzn club?
@robdylan (Comment 16) : NICE
@bergshark (Comment 17) : Vleis is still with the sevens team – had to sit out training last week because of a spider bite.
So there is currently no movement on any approach from the Sharks.
@bergshark (Comment 18) : Jaco is still trying to work out what his next move is, I believe
@bergshark (Comment 18) : but on that point, I don’t believe clubs contract players, do they? I thought the club game was still amateur
Amateur club rugby?? .. Oh yes for sure
wow – mind is still blown.
Dewald Potgieter literally had me rolling in my chair with a tweet he just sent
Wouldve felt more comfortable with a player like michael rhodes still there..
@robdylan (Comment 24) : Do share.
@bergshark (Comment 18) : jaco otto will be playing his rugby in dbn next year for a club and trying to break into the sharks xv side and if he does and gets a contract he will stay…if he doesnt he will have options available to him…
@Barrel :thanks for the info ,I really hope he makes the team .
@Barrel (Comment 27) : is it safe to assume that the club will be the one you and I talked about at length?
@klempie (Comment 26) : it’s about the cougar…. not something I want to get into in too much detail here.
Go check twitter for the details.
@bergshark (Comment 28) : so do i…apart from him being the best fetcher i have seen he is a top class guy as well…
@robdylan (Comment 29) : yes its the same club…also the same club that might snatch the player i told you to look up…but all on the QT…
Good call rob ..
@Barrel (Comment 32) : great stuff.
I like Jaco a lot. He’s a bit down, understandably, but good to know he’s prepared to work hard and show the suits how much he has to offer.
@Barrel:Wishing him all the best for next season ..tell him to keep going for the sharks jersey ,he has the talent..
Great to hear Jody is back…had an awesome time for Rovers this year. Bladdy good ball carrier…really keen to see both our sides next year; both are gonna be very strong.
its good to hear the S15 is on the board 4 training if we got there once we can do it again the Sharks CC champ is on top form so i got a good feeling we can do very well
I’m looking forward to seeing Rory up his game for next season an in form Rory is always good to see in a Sharks jersey!
@robdylan (Comment 34) : Any news on butch and frans steyn going to lions?
perhaps Rory and Riaan were asked to spy a bit before joining new employers
@ruggabugga (Comment 39) : didn’t Butch resign with Bath ?
and Frans has I think 2 years on his Metro contract.
can’t say that I am overly excited by JLP or Bosman for that matter. I doubt that they were brought to play in Vodacom cup so they will just end up taking a spot from some promising youngster.