Let’s run the rule over all the players who represented the Sharks in 2011, be it at Super Rugby, Vodacom Cup, Currie Cup or Under 21 level and try to get a picture of which of them will be sticking around in 2012.
Bear in mind that it’s really not easy to come by this information and we’ll update it as and when we get more. The table below will indicate who is definitely staying, who is definitely going and those about which we’re still not sure. This article will look at the forwards and we’ll cover the backs in a later one.
If anyone has any solid info that either confirms or contradicts anything we have in here, please do let me know!
| Name | 2012 Status | Destination | Contracted until | Notes |
| Beast Mtawarira | In | 2013 | ||
| Dale Chadwick | In | |||
| Eugene van Staden | In | Biarritz (loan) | 2012 | Loan move to Biarritz. Back for Super Rugby |
| Sabelo Nhlapo | Out | Tuks/Bulls | ||
| Danie Mienie | In | Still under 21 in 2012 | ||
| Jannie du Plessis | In | 2013 | ||
| Wiehahn Herbst | In | 2013 | ||
| Julian Redelinghuys | In | 2013 | ||
| Robbie Harris | Out | Unsure | ||
| Nick Schonert | In | Still under 21 in 2012 | ||
| Njabulo Mkhize | Out | UJ | ||
| Francois Hanekom | Out | Shimlas | ||
| John Smit | Out | Saracens | ||
| Bismarck du Plessis | In | 2013 | ||
| Craig Burden | In | |||
| Kyle Cooper | In | 2012 | ||
| Monde Hadebe | In | |||
| Shaun Malton | Out | UJ | ||
| Gideon Bruwer | In | Still under 21 in 2012 | ||
| Steven Sykes | Out | Leinster | ||
| Gerhard Mostert | Out | Stade Francais | ||
| Anton Bresler | In | 2013 | ||
| Jandre Marais | In | 2013 | ||
| Ross Skeate | In | 2012 | ||
| Alistair Hargreaves | In | |||
| Pieter-Steph du Toit | In | Still under 21 in 2012 | ||
| Peet Marais | In | 2013 | ||
| Karolis Navickas | Out | Sale Sharks | ||
| Johan Schoonbee | Out | Unsure | ||
| Lee Thompson | Out | Tuks/Bulls | ||
| Mike Williams | Out | Tuks/Bulls | ||
| Willem Alberts | In | 2012 | ||
| Jacques Botes | Unsure | Assume staying | ||
| Daniel Adongo | Out | Bulls | ||
| Marcell Coetzee | In | 2013 | ||
| Keegan Daniel | In | 2013 | ||
| Jean Deysel | In | 2014 | ||
| Ryan Kankowski | In | 2013 | Assume staying | |
| Francois Kleinhans | In | Still under 21 in 2012 | ||
| Lubabalo Mtembu | In | |||
| Nic Claasen | Out | Maties | Assume out | |
| Lambert Groenewald | Out | Brescia (Italy) | ||
| Siseko Jafta | In | Still under 21 in 2012 | ||
| Chris Cloete | In | Still under 21 in 2012 | ||
| Brynard Stander | Unsure |
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this is really just a first draft hey 🙂
Its sacary to see who we let go and who isn’t locked into contract extensions yet.
Its scary to see who we let go and who isn’t locked into contract extensions yet.
Bissie also signed until 2013?
@Ben (Comment 4) : If I’m correct both Bissie and Jannie signed for the next two years.
Please confirm backs – there r rumours that WP are after JP apparantly they have too many forwards but not enough backs 👿
@KingRiaan (Comment 5) : Yup that’s what I heard.
@KingRiaan (Comment 3) : bear in mind that many of the senior players who I have down as unknown are most likely still contracted… I just don’t have the info confirmed yet.
Maybe Stander is considering a last minute offer to join the bulls.
Big Mike will probably play for Pine Pienaars vodacom cup side.Nhlapo will be given a trial i doubt he will make the currie cup side.A fit and on form Morne Mallet is very usefull.
Jerome Pretorius is not bad but apparently the powers at loftus will push for serfontein..small smith…beyers and swanepoel to be sadies understudy.
Just had confirmation that Chadwick, Burden, Hargreaves and Daniel are all still in for next year, but agent unwilling to confirm contract durations.
Strange Peet has a contract to 2013 and Jandre is still unconfirmed…we need to secure here, me thinks! It takes a while for a lock to “grow” and I think he has great potential in the nr 4 jersey!
@Ice (Comment 13) : I’m still trying to get hold of Jandre and Peet’s agent. I’m pretty sure both are contracted until 2013
@robdylan (Comment 12) : That’s good news. We will need them badly during the S15
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 6) :
I’m sure I recall JP renewing his contract recently.
Oh and WP don’t sign backline players, we sign props and tight forwards… Oh wait… 👿 😕
@Ben (Comment 4) : @robdylan (Comment 12) : Ek sien jy kan ‘n skimp vang! 🙂
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 6) : will do backs tomorrow
The “unsure” next to Jandré Marais and Ryan Kankowski’s names makes me feel uneasy (although didn’t Ryan recently sign an extension?). I also seem to remember Beet waxing lyrical about Brynard Stander, so that’s another one where I’d like to see a commitment next to his name (this is of course assuming Beet’s opinion has a degree of credibility
).
@Culling Song (Comment 19) : Dude Beet still rates Johan Roets! 😆
@Culling Song (Comment 19) : I even heard Beet say that Johan Roets would have been a better Bok flyhalf than Henry Honniball. He said something along the lines of “Henry Honiball couldn’t even tackle a Jorrie Muller running straight at him.” 😆 😉
Sorry Beet! 🙂
Guys dnt no one can touch Beet i have learnt alot from him he should be the sharks junior scout lol
@ commet 13, That is strange since Jandre did play in the CC.
@ Comment 19, This is also strange. Unsure next to Ryan is making me uneasy.
@Culling Song (Comment 19) : Ryan may have…
@robdylan (Comment 25) : ah yes… Keegan and Hoff signed 3 year extensions last year
@dawj (Comment 24) : ok – no worries. Hoff is confirmed until 2013
@Ben (Comment 20) : Boggles the mind, doesn’t it? But given that he’s generaly of sound mind, I’m willing to let that one slide…
Jandre Marais MUST have the green “in” mark next to his name.
Glad to see Jafta, Kleynhans,Cloete still in, but would like to see Stander and Mthembu staying as well! Especialy Stander. Really like his play.
@Ben (Comment 21) :
I bet on Bullsworld I’d be a hero who earned an extra star for correctly suggesting that Roets deserved to be a Bok.
I’ll admit that it took me a long time to warm to HH primarily coz he replaced one of my fav Banana Boys players at the time – GI Joel Stansky but I wud never doubt the former Vrystater’s ability to put an opponent on his bum or to run dead straight and hard for that matter.
@Culling Song (Comment 19) : As an armchair fan I consider my numero uno strength to be my opinion. I’ve never use credibilty as a criteria.
I enjoyed watching the yster Brynard this season but I even believe that a more to the Bulls and a potential Varsity Cup place wud be far more beneficial to his long term career prospects than sticking it out here in Durbs.
Paul Jordaan? Piet Lindeque?
Are they still U21 next year?
@John Galt (Comment 32) : Yes Paul has 2 years left and Piet will be in his last season in 2012.
@beet (Comment 31) :
You sound more and more like a Bulls agent 🙂 Bloody agent.
I would prefer that IF Brynard has to leave, that it would rather be UJ or Kovsies, because the Bulls and Stormers are already so stock piled that he will not even get an opporunity at all.
@beet (Comment 33) : Does Piet have a nickname? I can’t wait for him to make the step up. Want to brand him with a new nick name.
PIET THE LUNATIC LINDEQUE!
@John Galt (Comment 32) : ummm… did you not read that we’re only covering the FORWARDS in this article? 🙂
@John Galt (Comment 32) : this is forwards only – Rob will pen the backs tommorrow! 😉
Nobody even a little concerned at the news that Adongo is like 90% certain to leave?
@robdylan (Comment 36) : hahaha! Snap!
Just imagine how strong SA rugby would be if upcoming and surplus players gets allocated to different unions to enable them all game time.
@robdylan (Comment 38) : How old is he now?
@beet (Comment 31) : “As an armchair fan I consider my numero uno strength to be my opinion. I’ve never use credibilty as a criteria.”
I can relate to that, particularly vis-a-vis my stance on Beyonce and all things musical; one of those “everyone has a right to an opinion: mine” scenarios
@robdylan (Comment 38) : I would love him to stay, and see what he can do when he is not so “raw”….
But what can u do…he is a massive guy – just needs to get everything in place. Might take a few years…so I guess if someone is gonna let him play, he’s gonna take the opportunity… 🙁
These guys have NO patience!!! 🙁
@robdylan (Comment 38) :
Everyone in the know had something to negative to say about his form and development this year, I thought that he was not in need of discussion or concern for that matter.
So if its more of a 90% foregone conclusion, I take it the 10% is just the courier company delivering the contract in Pta
@robdylan (Comment 14) : You are 100% correct.
@robdylan (Comment 38) : I’m actually happy for him. I wish him all the best.
For me it was a huge surprise when he made the squad at the beginning of the season. However some guys just need an offseason to click.
I wud like to know when he started playing rugby. At what age.
@Ben (Comment 41) : 22
@FS Shark (Comment 45) : I’m going to take your word on that and update Jandre
@beet (Comment 46) : late teens, I think
@FS Shark (Comment 45) : Thanks! And that’s awsome news! Now we can get “IN” next to Jandre too! 😀
@robdylan (Comment 47) : Not worried about him leaving. We have enough loosies as is. If he could play 4 lock that would have been a different story.
@robdylan (Comment 49) : I can imagine what a brilliant player he wud have been had he started at say 10 or 11 years old.
A few guys who only started playing rugby after school have made it big but they also had the benefit of growing up with rugby. I feel that Daniel struggles with positional awareness on the rugby field and this is problematic on defence.
Maybe we should try and keep him for 2 more years.
@JustPlainSHARK (Comment 44) :
Hmmmm, enjoying the silence.
@FS Shark (Comment 45) : Are there any areas of the game in which you feel Peet and/or Jandre need to work hard to improve?
Are there any other locks that have impressed you at u21 level this season?
The only players I’m worried about is Mtembu, Stander and Botes.
@beet (Comment 52) : I just think that a bloke who’s 1.96m, 110kg and runs the 100m in under 11 sec – not to mention being about the strongest guy pound-for-pound in the whole system – is not someone you want to let go to the Bulls. They are going to turn him into a superstar and he’s going to SMASH us. Over and over and over again. For YEARS to come.
@Ben (Comment 55) : I’m told that Mtembu will stay, but there are still some issues to iron out. No clue what’s happening with Stander but should get an update next week.
Botes probably has a year to go on his contract too
@robdylan (Comment 57) : 😎 I think Botes has one season left in him at the Sharks.
@robdylan (Comment 56) : Not to worried about that. Look what they did with Pierre Spies! 🙂
@JustPlainSHARK (Comment 40) : A draft system for surplus players could be very beneficial to SA rugby provided that the smaller unions have the adequate funds to cover salaries. Salary caps would probably need to be introduced for draft prospects (similar to the NFL) but I’m certain it could work.
@Ben (Comment 58) : You’d think? He couldn’t even get selected for the CC final for some reason. If Plum wants big storming loosies, then he should have held onto Adongo and let Botes become the Stef of the forwards (only play him when needed).
@JustPlainSHARK (Comment 61) : S15 = Depth required in all positions.
@JustPlainSHARK (Comment 61) : Btw your reference doesn’t work. Stef wasn’t played only when needed. He was picked ahead of better players. 🙂
@Ben (Comment 63) : unfortunately
@robdylan (Comment 36) : @Ice (Comment 37) :
Ahhhh… Salaam and good day to you then.
@John Galt (Comment 65) : I’ll get the other half up tomorrow, k?
Wouldn’t want to see the sharks lose the under21 loose forwards(mthembu,brynard,cloete) and adonga.
@robdylan: so johan schoonbee is gone?
@bergshark (Comment 68) : yes
http://www.sportlive.co.za/rugby/boks/2011/11/08/boks-face-pumas-in-opening-rugby-championship-match
The Rugby Championship….wow… 🙄
@robdylan: physical stats of schoonbee are impressive.never really featured in the junior sharks teams.was his stay in dbn plagued by injury?
@ comment 38, i did inquire about him during the course of the year because i was told that he was the next big thing. Don’t know what to make of him at this point in time.
This brings us to an old topic i.e. Plum’s reluctance to give the youngsters a chance just like another Kiwi that coached the Sharks and the ramifications it eventually had for Natal and SA Rugby 👿
So.
SA travel
SA-ARG-BYE-AUS-NZ-BYE-SA-SA
AUS travel
AUS-NZ-BYE-AUS-AUS-BYE-SA-ARG
NZ travel
AUS-NZ-BYE-ARG-SA-BYE-NZ-NZ
ARG travel
SA-ARG-BYE-NZ-AUS-BYE-ARG-ARG
So O’Neill is grinning like a Chesire cat again. NZ and SA shafted. Well done him.
Can’t believe we let Lambert Groenewalt go!!!!
@BoerSeun: re: lambert groenewald.seems like his departure opened the way for coetzee. Groenewald was still on the bench and was given a few mins against the blues.
@BoerSeun (Comment 74) : but if we hadn’t, then what would his second-division italian club have done without him?
@klempie (Comment 73) : you’re clearly dying to write an article about this
@robdylan: comment76: ouch..!
@robdylan (Comment 77) : Is that a request? 😛
@klempie (Comment 79) :
Klempie’s first article….now that sounds like a plan to me!
I think the logistics have actually changed things a bit and now favour SA a lot more. It will be a killer for the Kiwis and Aussies to travel all the way to Arg even if its via SA.
@klempie (Comment 79) : either write it or shut up about it… your choice 🙂
Rob,
Can’t wait for the backs update. Hope you spring a surprise or two but i would very much like a three
@klempie (Comment 70) : Re the title, apparently Argentina threatened to pull out unless the competition was given a title indicating the status that they are bringing to it.
@dawj (Comment 83) : what surprise are you hoping for? 🙂
Next year’s Tri-nations aka Quad-nations aka The Castle Rugby Championship, fixtures has been released 😎
FIXTURES:
18 August 2012
Australia vs New Zealand
South Africa vs Argentina
25 August 2012
New Zealand vs Australia
Argentina vs South Africa
1 September 2012
Travel Bye
8 September 2012
Australia vs South Africa
New Zealand vs Argentina
15 September 2012
Australia vs Argentina
New Zealand vs South Africa
22 September 2012
Travel Bye
29 September 2012
South Africa vs Australia
Argentina vs New Zealand
6 October 2012
South Africa vs New Zealand
Argentina vs Australia
Jeez come on Sharks need to sign Alberts for a few more years.
Why is Odonga moving to Bulls or Tuks? Heck man, I get angry when we lose talent that has hardly had a chance at the Sharks. Is he going for sure Rob?
Pleased to see Deysel in until 2014. Committed to the Sharks. Like that. We just have to now get Alberts to sign for longer. Lions may want him back. Sharks should do everything to keep him for a few years still.
@Puma: def need alberts to sign a longer deal. Not only will the lions want him back,but the bulls and weepee would also like him in their teams.
@Puma: also hope we can keep adonga at the sharks ( or perhaps only loan him to the tukkies side so that he gets opportunity to play varsity cup?can this be done?).
updated… confirmed out are Dan Adongo (Bulls) and Francois Hanekom (Shimlas)
I have just seen that Eugene van Staaden has signed for Biarritz… is this now a permanent move?
@lostfish (Comment 92) : it sounds like it may be. Following up and will confirm tomorrow
@robdylan (Comment 93) : I guess this is the risk when these guys go off to do part time work in Europe.