In what will hopefully be the final chapter in the ongoing “Beast Mtawarira saga”, intrepid newshound Craig Lewis of the Daily News managed to catch up with the big prop on Friday afternoon to get his side of the story. The good news is, he’s not going anywhere!
“I’m really looking forward to the Super 15 with the Sharks”, Mtawarira is quoted as saying. “I really can’t wait for it to kick-off. I’m really happy that the whole contractual matter has been resolved and I’m really glad to be with the Sharks.”
Sharksworld, despite originally being concerned, based on what we’d heard from a number of sources, has been quite convinced for some weeks now that Beast had indeed decided to honour his commitment to the Sharks for the next 3 years, despite the Lions offering him many times what the Sharks were prepared to. We’re please ro be able to confirm that information with such a cut-and-dried quote from the man himself.
So pleased Beast stays a Shark
Yay so very relieved!! DeKlerk go suck raw eggs
great article rob. full of positive energy. just the stuff that makes sharksworld great.
@try time (Comment 3) :
Hello Puma great to see you here! Don’t go to Keo anymore- I prefer unbiased articles, and if there is to be bias I prefer it to be in favour of The Sharks
@try time (Comment 3) : Don’t forget to ‘like’ the article!
Best news heard today.
Awesome news even though we knew it already just great to hear the big man saying it himself! Thank you beast you legend!
Guys be nice to Rob without him we would be stuck with Keo
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 5) : Hello to you too, but I have been blogging here since last years S14
Not all of the time but have been here.. 
Yip, plenty that goes on there, but I just ignore the trouble makers on keo.
End of story. Fullstop. Gooood!
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 9) : Don’t worry. Sharksworld is always the first site I open every morning.
Boy oh Boy that’s the Beast news i’ve heard in a long while
Soooo Glad Tendai is honouring his contract and is Happy to be staying with The Sharks
Money isn’t everything thank-god 
BEASSSSSSSTTTTTT
Woohoo!
Oh dear its because since last year they blocked the internet from all our comps at work, and I have been following on my cell, which on a normal cell is rather onerous. So I mainly just read the article,seldom blogged. I have, however, given myself a Blackberry for Christmass so I am once again partaking in the joys of blogging
For now…
yeah great news indeed…
@try time (Comment 3) : LMAO
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 15) : Okay, so you Sharksgirl over there
How you doing?
@try time (Comment 3) : vanWilder Likes the article and the comment.
How long til marvellous manie or oom kev say they are still awaiting news on beast?
Yes Puma its me
I am well just suffering from withdrawal symptoms, cannot wait for S15 to start!
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 23) : Thought it was you..hehe. Well you don’t have long to wait now, about a month. Then the warm up games, which I don’t care too much about, expect we must not pick up any injuries there.
guys, a few weeks ago when this beast story just broke out, Brian van Zyl was qouted as saying that he was still in the market for a highly rated outside centre… that should be for next season i guess, when Stef retires and to back – up Adi… only one i can think of that should be in the market is Ebersohn???
Is beast happy to actually be at the sharks or is he happy that the sharks gave him a massive increase..anyone would be happy to be at a organisation if they gettin a huge pay cheque..
This is going to be one FANTASTIC year
Yay
@shaniboi (Comment 26) :
Happy to be at the Sharks – if it was for the money he would be at the Lions. I personally think he didnt want to be associated with MTN and that is why he came clean today.
Okay FINALLY we have it from the horses mouth.
There was an article yesterday that was saying about how IF beast joins the lions he would be the only one of their big name signings that actually materialised.
Well……….
@VanWilder (Comment 25) : ebersohn is a highly OVERrated centre, he is no better than the talented centres who could make the step up come currie cup time. There is absolutely no need to sign him.
Rich can u accept my invite on superbru pls..
@Salmonoid (Comment 29) : Just wanted to say exactly the same thing except for the mtn part.
Great news.
Beast accepted less money to stay – a victory for the Sharks on the face of it.
The class of 2011 looks pretty damn awesome indeed.
@war1 (Comment 31) : I agree. Robert Ebersohn has struggled to live up to his schoolboy rep. Vrystaat fast tracked but I’m sure they’ll now concede that he’s nowhere near the level expected or hoped for. I would like to see him play at 12 rather.
Shopping around I think Tim Whitehead would be a good option for the Sharks if we want a bit of experience. Possibly the guy Bergshark likes Ronnie Cooke if he’s still playing as well as he did when he was with Griquas. We could look at EP’s Wayne Stevens’ form this year to see if he shows more growth. But if I could get at 13 for the Sharks, even tho’ he’s a bit wet behind the ears, I’d go for Johann Sadie, the brilliant WP u21 centre. He really looked the part last year.
@beet (Comment 35) : we dont need to buy anyone, we hav piet lindeque
war1
De Klerk will claim they never made an official offer to Beast!!
@wpw (Comment 37) : yeah, probably, or he might try to get bissie and jannie now
@war1 (Comment 36) : took the words right out of my mouth
@robdylan (Comment 39) : Hi rob ,
I love the way Reynecke is already saying that they might talk to Beast again in a year’s time…
trying to save some face, boetie?
@sharks_lover (Comment 40) : hiya bro
@robdylan (Comment 41) : exactly Rob , Renecke is a gisgrace to pro rugby
@robdylan (Comment 42) : lionsmust be hating us lol they keep losing player issues to us
@robdylan (Comment 42) : @robdylan (Comment 42) : did my hint of the article by craig on the other thread earlier work??
or did ya check out the DN anyhows?? 
didnt want to post the whole article so just left you a little hint
@sharks_lover (Comment 45) : Craig told me about this on Friday, but asked me not to scoop him.
Rob i agree re Robert Eberson , we need to use more of our youngsters coming through the academy
And i think its time they made that change i told you about at the academy
You know where a select few get that special attention and get groomed for the main Sharks team
@robdylan (Comment 47) : cool thats great Rob
yeah its like the info i gave you re beast from HE but also kept quiet as he asked me till it came out that following day in the mercury
lol i wish we could sometimes have the scoops , but as you know if i see or hear something i will let you know
@robdylan (Comment 47) : rob help me out or am i wrong??
i am scared of our lack of depth at loose forward , here is why
yes we have 5 great loosies , we get 1 or 2 injuries what then ??/
as it is Deysel is very injury proned?
now before we had started with Downey gaining experience and the Rhodes , but they both gone
@sharks_lover (Comment 49) : it’s all about give and take
My rule is that I don’t scoop a journo who gives me a hot tip, because it’s his livelihood on the line. It means more to them than it does to us.
@sharks_lover (Comment 50) : you are not wrong… there is nobody else with experience and we need to bear in mind that we’re starting the season with only 4 fit loosies.
The Sharks XV has nobody who has played any super rugby in the loosies… so we’re looking at throwing a youngster into the fray. Kind of crazy, considering if we’d just done that with Downey when we had the chance he would still be with us
@sharks_lover (Comment 50) : Howzit Sharky,
Absolutely correct there. We have amongst the best loosies but if any get injured we in trouble. Thinking of Alberts and Deysel, both put their bodies on the line everytime, they both high risk for injury.
We pretty much covered everywhere else if we pick up a injury.
Also we are the only team to have a front rower that can play all 2 position…..hehehe. Just had to get that in. Damn some stupid, stupid comments on keo going on again. Wanted log on there and just thought no.
@Puma (Comment 53) : correction – all 3 positions
@robdylan (Comment 52) : Rob, is there a Superbru pool on Sharksworld? If so what is the code?
@robdylan (Comment 51) : yup, i dont really have contacts as journo’s except tank lanning but i have never phoned him for info, as my contacts as you know who they are , their contacts could bring them into trouble if i broke news they gave me without them without it going through the right channels like Sharksrugby , so yeah i also have to hold back even though one gets excited with some of the good news lol
@robdylan (Comment 52) :
Ok so my worry that we were ok in all positions accept loosies is not wrong
shit hope and pray we dont pick up injuries
@Puma (Comment 55) : there is and it is… umm…. can’t remember.
Will have to go look
Okay see Richard has a Superbru going. Have the code.
@Puma (Comment 55) : gaffbred
@Puma (Comment 53) : lol hiyas brudda , glaad ur doing well
and yeah for the most i jst read the crap in Keo , but same people aint it
grant , justrugby, rossineri, transformations , tacitus , same old same old huh??
@robdylan (Comment 59) : Thanks Rob, got it.
@sharks_lover (Comment 60) : Well rather just blog here..
Hey went to get my season ticket but only rubbish seats available. Every seat is in the very far corners. So waiting until 7th of Feb to see if some season ticket holders don’t renew theirs. Then of course the present season ticket holders get first choice of those tickets. Like gold those tickets….hahaha.
lol just had a look at the wetalkrugby site
dayum what a hateful bunch ,
some saying we are jealuos of their MTN sponsorships
what on earth for 
@Puma (Comment 62) : lol yeah puma best to wait if some dont renew , but to be honest with the sharks being succesful i dont see that happening much
@sharks_lover (Comment 64) : Well that is what they told me, cause we won the CC they had huge amounts buying even the really bad seats, well for me they are, don’t want to go and sit where I see nothing. Then the season ticket holders have until end of this month to renew, if they don’t those go on sale, but the other season ticket holders
get first choice. 
Fair that, but for the ones that don’t have, then you just can’t get good seats to buy. Will wait and see what is available on the 7th. Otherwise will just buy tickets for games I want to go if there are any good seats. Or just go to the clubhouse, about 50 sharkies go there to watch so the vibe is great. Not as good as going to the Stadium.
@sharks_lover (Comment 63) : Hahaha just read that article and comments at wetalkrugby! Lol what a real bunch of low life Boere!
@Ben (Comment 66) : lol
little do they know the stadium name is already sponsored for big bucks and will be known as KINGS PARK
@sharks_lover (Comment 67) : They are so proud with their mtn sponsor saying it sounds so much better that a & g lions. It doesn’t sound much better to me it just sounds shorter! They are talking about mtn like they are microsoft!
@Puma (Comment 62) :
I’m one of those current season ticket holders who will be trying to see if i can get better seats.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 69) : Lucky you
You guys make it hard for us that don’t have a season ticket.. 
There were some available, but really not worth it. Sitting low down in the corners, really wont waste my time on those. Will wait and see what they have left that you guys don’t snatch up before the 7th
@KSA Shark © (Comment 69) : @Puma (Comment 70) : Both of you’s are lucky wish I stayed close enough to go and watch every game!
@Puma (Comment 70) :
My way of making sure I get to see the 3Ns test each year. Also came in handy for the 2 REAL Lions matches in ’09.
@Ben (Comment 71) :
Dude I am a 9 hour flight away from Durban in Saudi Arabia.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 73) : And you come ans watch the matches?
@Ben (Comment 74) :
No.
family and friends get to use them while we are gone.
As an example Nita mentioned in her meet the blogger thread that she has NEVER watched a match at KP, so i’ve told here she can have all four of them for any Super Rugby game of her choice for the coming season except the play-offs.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 75) : You know man I’ve never watched a match there either!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 72) : Yeah, probably should have bought the rubbish seats..hehe. Just to have a chance to upgrade.
What you doing in that awful Saudi? I worked on contract there many years back. Bloody hot place that.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 72) : I bought a ticket for the BIL test. Not great seats but had to go, for the experience. Anyhow maybe some kinda good seats are left on the 7th. Will wait and see.
Cheers KSA out of here now. And I don’t envy you in Saudi. Hope you making that vintage wine..hehe. Yip all 3 months old and it is vintage there…
@KSA Shark © (Comment 75) : That reminds me I still have to do my meet the blogger thingy!
@Puma (Comment 77) :
I work for Aramco as an Analyzer technician.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 80) : What do analyzer technicians do?
@klempie (Comment 81) : count the sand granules in the desert
@klempie (Comment 81) :
Do you watch CSI. The stuff they use to do tests, that they refer to as GC, GCMS etc. to get DNA results, to see what chemical compounds things are made of etc. THOSE are analyzers.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 83) : Hectic!
I JUST GOT A TICKET TO U2!!
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
@war1 (Comment 36) : @robdylan (Comment 39) : Just my opinion and I’m definitely not a rugby expert.
A friend of mine taught at Grey Bloem and told me to watch out for Piet Lindeque (and Britz + F.Venter) playing 1st XV in gr.11 back in 2008, so I known about him and watched him for a bit longer than many people rugby lovers here in KZN. I was ampted when he decided to join the Sharks Academy and am a big fan of his having seen in action on +/- 10 for the u19s + u21s last year. Like all our youngsters I’d love to see him succeed. But as you guys know if you measure success* in terms of a junior player one day becoming a regular starter for one of the big 5 provincial sides in SA, more juniors fail than those who succeed probably by 10:1 ratio if not more. So please, please love Piet Lindeque, want him to be the next star as much as I do, but don’t put all your eggs in 1 basket. Piet must not become the be all and end all of our hopes to fill this no.13 gap in 2011/12 + he’s not yet 20 years old. The process of identification, development and/or recruitment of talent is a never-ending one. And big ups to our various Academies when they get this 100% right with a player and the Sharks reap the benefits of this process.
*I truly believe that any player who makes u19 and/or u21 is a success story already.
@beet (Comment 35) : I feel bad for what I said about Robert Ebersohn. He’s still only 21 and might still reach his full potential in the next few seasons.
The thing with buying a player is you should only buy a player who will make your team stronger, not just for the sake of it.
@war1 (Comment 88) : and there are so many factors to take into account as well, also as the sharks already have a very strong squad, buying players is not really necessary, as the bulls and crusaders have shown, stability is very important to successful teams, we need a bit of that, plus its a lot cheaper to bring someone very promising through from the academy than buying on a whim
@Puma (Comment 24) : there is a couple of really young talents in the outside sentre spot….one very good option would be Ronnie Cook @ Brive…but just maybe past his due date even if just aged 26…a big development to keep a eye on is our Own Piet Lineque….a very good talent…a nother good option is the Melbourne Rebels youngster Jp du Plesiss 19 years old…and a little rathbone of old…But the Big Pick if going for gold, Jean de Jong…but I must say, I like what we are doing now the sharks are truly the only union to blood there own youngsters to the highest level…pienaar, kanko, pieterson, murry,sykes, bisness, the list goes on and on…I prefer the sharks way…go piet lineque!!!
@beet (Comment 86) : I concur with this sentiment. With the amount of hype already surrounding Piet, I fear that if he does not develop into the next Danie Gerber (with Jonny Wilkinson’s kicking game, to boot) people are going to be disappointed, and there is going to be a (unfair) backlash.
@BoerSeun (Comment 90) : Did you see the article on JP du Plessis on R365. After you’d given him such a big thumbs up in your post a few weeks ago, I now can’t wait to see him play.
And it seems like there’s the possibility he might return home late on.
@beet (Comment 86) : wise words indeed.
@beet (Comment 86) : hey beet I know exactly what you mean a friend of mine that did matric with me went to play for the SA under 19s in 2006 in dubai I think it was 2006 but anyway after that he joined the bulls but never got into the squad then he joined the lions where he played a few games an last year he was at the falke! Anyway point is when I was at school I thaught for sure this guy is gonna play for the boks one day but fact is when it comes to yhe big stage its not that easy! Maybe you’ve seen hi£ play his name is johan jackson.
@beet: re: jp du plessis : met his dad in 2009 (involved with lions,skills coach.also does some work @ sharks academies).really nice person.saw some clips of jp in action and if I was sharks coach,would’ve signed him on the spot(but he had already signed to go play league in aus).
Glad to see he is back in union (not happy it is for aussie team.but I hope he comes back to sa soon ).
@Boerseun: saw ronnie cooke playing on the wing for brive a few weeks ago,and he scored a good try (running clever angle and showing some pace),so I don’t think he is any slower than when in sa.what I really remember about him is a game for cheetahs vs hurrucanes in bloem and the way he tackled guys like no’nu,soi’alo,richie collins.wasn’t afraid to get stuck in and bring those big hurricanes down (think his stats were 1.79m 84kg @ the time) but you would never have guessed it looking @ how he went in to make those tackles!good stepper also.and last time I saw him play was on the right wing,so he must still have the speed.
@beet: you are 100% correct,can’t put all our hopes (and therefore unnecessary pressure on one pair of shoulders..especially such young shoulders!)Always good to have friendly competition within the squad and quality cover ( also,rotation policy will be more and more important,and having 2 quality players per position being rotated smartly also should increase longevity of both players’ careers imho)
This morning, Superrugby loaded a video on their site about the Lions latest acquisitions. In it, Kevin de Klerk confirms that the Beast will not be leaving for the Sharks and wishes him well for the future.
I believe we can put this matter to bed.