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 backs as the second in a two-part series.
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 |
Conrad Hoffmann | In | 2013 | ||
Charl McLeod | In | 2012 | ||
Ross Cronje | Out | Lions | ||
Cobus Reinach | Unknown | Apparently has been contracted – awaiting confirmation | ||
Charles Purdon | Out | Unknown | ||
Peter du Toit | Out | Ireland | ||
Patrick Lambie | In | 2012 | ||
Frederic Michalak | In | 2012 | Contracted until end of Super Rugby | |
Willie du Plessis | Out | Tuks/ Bulls | ||
Jacques-Louis Potgieter | In | 2013 | ||
Paul Jordaan | In | Still under 21 in 2012 | ||
Fred Zeilinga | In | Still under 21 in 2012 | ||
Guy Cronje | Out | Lions | ||
Drew Norton | Out | UCT | ||
Meyer Bosman | In | 2013 | ||
Riaan Swanepoel | Out | Brive | ||
Heimar Williams | In | Still under 21 in 2012 | ||
Adrian Jacobs | Unknown | Situation unclear – not sure if a contract has been offered | ||
Stefan Terblanche | Out | Ulster | ||
Marius Joubert | In | 2013 | ||
Kayde Fisher | Unknown | Still under 21 in 2012 | ||
Devon Lailvaux | Out | NMMU | ||
Piet Lindeque | In | Still under 21 in 2012 | ||
Jared Meyer | In | Still under 21 in 2012 | ||
Dwayne Jenner | Out | Border | ||
Howard Mnisi | Out | NMMU | ||
Jerome Pretorius | Out | Tuks | ||
Lwazi Mvovo | In | 2012 | ||
Odwa Ndungane | In | |||
JP Pietersen | In | 2013 | ||
Mark Richards | Out | SA Sevens | ||
Sibusiso Sithole | In | |||
Rosco Speckmann | Unknown | |||
Kieran Goss | Out | Kings | Still under 21 in 2012 | |
Nico van der Westhuizen | Unknown | Facebook would suggest he’s leaving. Waiting for confirmation | ||
Jaco van Tonder | In | Still under 21 in 2012 | ||
Anton Verster | Out | NMMU | ||
Luzuko Vulindlu | Out | Auch | ||
Louis Ludik | In | 2012 | ||
Gouws Prinsloo | In | 2013 | ||
Kobus de Kock | Out | Lazio | ||
Wynand Pienaar | Out | Tuks |

Welcome relief from the Beet, Muzi and HendrikP show. Just kidding. Although after comment a 100 or so the Bulls youngsters stories do start telling its tale.
@Mocho (Comment 1) : Best Westville player you’ve ever seen in action. Go!
Rob. Excellent work again.
@beet (Comment 2) :
Khaya Majola.
Seems a bit unfair to have Mark Richards labelled as out. He’s still a Sharks player.
Kayde Fisher is still u21 next year. I hope he sticks around. He’s had precious few opportunities and looked quite good on the wing during the match vs the Valke. (Hope this keeps Mocho interested)
@hendrikp (Comment 4) : Mocho is at Westville. He’s blessed for choice here. They’ve produced a good few stand out individuals over the last few years under Reece-Edwards and now coach Vowles. Theo van Rensburg is their assistant coach.
@beet (Comment 2) : Duane Frank…
That’s “playa”, though… š
@beet (Comment 5) : is Kayde still under 21? Wasn’t sure… anyway, tells me he and his agent are weighing up their options
@beet (Comment 5) : Mark is no longer contracted to the Sharks, though… he’s now contracted directly to SA Rugby
@robdylan (Comment 7) : Wasn’t he the touch judge? Or first aid assistant?
@robdylan (Comment 7) : No doubt DF will say Waylon Murray
@robdylan (Comment 9) : You know thinking back, a different Duane, Dwayne Jenner should probably have stuck around a while longer to watch the events at senior level centre unfold before packing his bags.
@beet (Comment 10) : he he… you dirty man š
@beet (Comment 6) :
Haha Mr beet I am hopefully getting my degree this year, I was at Westville. I know Coombe also does some work with the 1st team. I actually rate him a better coach than Hugh or Vowels.
I can just see it now, Kayde and Tyler, playing together, causing opposition players all sorts of problems .
Best Westville player? Jeez that’s hard . Think 2007 Waylon was probably the best. Made the Boks as well.
robdylan (Comment 8) : Rob I have emailed you an article , beet got me all excited about Westville
@Mocho (Comment 14) : Love the pic
@Mocho (Comment 14) : got it, thanks boet. Will get it up for tomorrow morning.
Lotta young players leaving…
I am really starting to detest this time of year wrt the Sharks, so many good players leaving.
@war1 (Comment 18) : uh yup
@robdylan (Comment 19) : And I’m really starting to think the Lions and Bulls are actually the ones saying Straueli’s salary. If not, they should be because he seems to be working for them and not the Sharks.
geez, i really do hope we can hold on to Reinach……. šÆ
@The Sharks Sharkie (Comment 15) : Thanks :). See I got inspired when I noticed that majority of the players that grow beards played much more physically and direct. So I edited a pic of P Spies in the hope he would grow one and start playing with more grunt. Maybe then we might actually notice him on a field.
@robdylan (Comment 16) : No problem Boss man. I was about to tell you that you should’nt release too many articles now. When the dry months come in December, and there is no rugby news, we will sharksworld to cricketworld very quickly š
Rob another idea is to do a post with all the players books being released. Maybe close to X-mas. Even P.Divvy is coming out with a book. I hope its kak funny, I’ll buy it then.
@VanWilder (Comment 21) : Agree, especially now that Ross has left. I am genuinely worried about the Sharks’ future. We can’t keep losing players like this.
@war1 (Comment 23) : Don’t we lose a lot of players every year?
So Lambie and Mvovo only have a contract until 2012? š We had better wake up and sign them for another few years before the other franchises lure them away.
Also hope that Sithole is with us for another few years. Does he have a contract?
We should be getting Jordaan and Lindeque into the senior side. The S15 gonna be very long and drawn out this year.
Where has Vulindlu gone? Always rated him but he hever got much game time with the senior Sharks side.
I feel for JLP hope he gets more game time this year.
@Mocho (Comment 14) : Mocho. Sorry I had you confused with your cousin codename : KFC spy
I hope your article does justice to Tyler’s efforts this season. There hasn’t been enough praise going around for what he’s achieved this year.
I remember your former coach Coombe from his club rugby days. He was a tall wing. I can’t remember if he played for Collegians or DHSOB tho. I’m sure he also went to Westville so he wud have been a few years behind Errol Stewart, who is quite possibly the best Westville allrounder of all times having played centre for Natal and cricket for SA and Coombe was possibly in the same 1st rugby team as Sean Payne who played for the Sharks and later Wales.
Sharks loosing a lot of young players to NMMU and TUKS, the Sharks need a good varsity cup team, its a great place to develop and test youngsters, PUKKE is the only source of players for the Leopards and it has help to improve their game, a lot of players came threw the Varsity Cup like Juan de Jongh, Conrad Hoffman and Josh Strauss to name a few and most unions use the Varsity Cup as development.
Leopards have PUKKE
Bulls have TUT and TUK
Lions have UJ
Cheetahs have Shimlas
WP have MATIES and UCT
Kings have NMMU
@beet (Comment 27) : LMAO Hahaha. That was the funniest thing ever, and then they go lose the match the next day.
Actually it doesn’t , more focused on the Old Boys. Tyler is still in school. Maybe you can write up a story for us? Please please pretty please? With a KFC bucket on top?
Aww Errol Stewart is a legend. What a guy. There is a dude who made the SA U19 hockey team when he was only like 16/17 and made the Natal soccer team. Coombe was a top coach and actually took Westville out of darkness and set the platform for where we are now. I remember one season when Waylon was still playing we lost like one or two games the entire season. We were coached by Coombe. All I remember is going to Boss mans Robs school and we got beaten. Saddest thing ever. There was thing wing who was playing back for Boss mans school who was most probably the biggest school rugby player I have ever seen. Wish I knew his name.
Do you know Shane Savage? His father if I am not mistaken was quite big in club rugby in Durban.
@Mutley (Comment 28) : why don’t they just make a combine varsity team with the 3 varsity colleges and the 5 or so UKZN campus’s.
@beet (Comment 24) : Exactly my point. We are getting weaker and not stronger and that is my worry.
@Mocho (Comment 22) :
no he is saving the FL and LMS for dec me thinks
It would be cool if we could also have a list of all the acquisitions we made…
@King Shark (Comment 33) : that will be a pretty short list
@robdylan (Comment 9) : I’m sure that Mark will not be lost to the XV man game – only question is at which union he turns up next.
@robdylan (Comment 34) : an even shorter list would be really successful acquisitions š
I can’t think of too many recent (last couple of years) ones other than Wim Alberts.
Ludick is a good player but injury prone.
Hoffman and JLP have been nowhere and the less said about Marius Joubert the better – although to give him credit he was once a fine player.
Why on earth would JLP extend his contract?
I’m getting scared that Adi has not sorted out his contract, yet. Sharks would be really Stupid not to give him another 2 years. He is the only 13 that has been playing well for The Sharks for quite a while to be honest. And the only real option at this stage. Joubert is too slow for 13 these days, Whitehead?? Never rated him. ADI has hardly put a foot wrong this year when givin the chance; he is a class player! Really hope he is givin the chance to make the 13 jersey his own, again.
Dammit, hope Sharks offer Adi a contract…stressful times on my holidays…me not likey š
Also hope JLP can stay at The Sharks after 2013…we need to have quality backup for Pat; and Fred needs to go…don’t think his heart is in The Sharks the way he’s talking. Think about it Fred leaves, Zeilinga still young, Bosman can’t kick tactically from 10, Riaan Vilhoen at 10 is not ideal. Sharks need to keep JLP for at least 5an extra 4.
^If we can’t get Johan Goosen down to Durbs we have to keep JLP in Durban. Also hope he can get some more gametime…hopefully he can be starting 10 in the 2012 Currie Cup.
@JJR (Comment 38) : brace yourself for bad news re adi
@robdylan (Comment 40) : We all expecting it š
@robdylan (Comment 40) : Absolutely disgraceful. I am really pissed off at Straueli. What the hell does he think he is doing??!
@robdylan (Comment 40) : Well I imagine Adi Jacobs will be a gentleman and move on quietly but I really wish he’d spill the beans when he leaves – tell about a breakdown in his relationship with Plum and what brought it about, if this was the case. šæ
Odwa is the only IN that needs to be OUT in that list. Time to move on old chap.
Cant have wings being run down by props. Ever.
@robdylan (Comment 40) : Gonna be a mistake…why we signed Whitehead still baffles me. Man this sucks…where would Adi go…Red and White?
Odwa isnt bad and can still add value to the Sharks as a team man and a dangerous back three component.
@Talent (Comment 46) :
Dangerous is not a word that comes to mind when talking about Odwa. At a push he is solid but not dangerous.
@John Galt (Comment 44) : I rate Ndungane at 15, though. Good guy to have in your squad…he’s a solid outside back…does look for work a lot. Like his work ethic. He was reeled by CJ Van der Linde…he is a fast prop, if that makes it any more acceptable š
@John Galt (Comment 47) : He may be moved to fullback ,he is a hard working wing and good ball player.
@JJR (Comment 48) : also find there is less space to operate now days with players being more savy and athletic.
When Odwa has been at Fullback he has been a lot more effective on attack…I still prefer Odwa to Mvovo; mvovo gets exposed against good kicking opposition.
Think mvovo is just a bit clumsy
@JJR (Comment 45) :
dont think we have the $$$ for adi ?
@JJR (Comment 45) :
No way will Adi move to the Lions.
Plum and Mitchell are great buds remember?? š
@wpw (Comment 54) : So? Not sure that that would make any difference?
@wpw (Comment 54) : That shouldnt be a problem, afterall Mitchell had no problem playing Mapoe.
@Salmonoid (Comment 56) :
Enjoying your new 42″ TV?
I don’t believe adi’s financial demands are unreasonable. Certianly would only cost a fraction of what we’re paying joubert…
@robdylan (Comment 58) :
You know what we’re paying Joubert?
@robdylan (Comment 58) : Hey Rob, following on from Steve’s post (#36), and in lieu of the mention of what we pay players, how about an article listing the players we’ve signed from other unions, maybe with a bit of discussion regarding the value they’ve delivered? I would suggest looking back to 2007, which I think was the best Sharks team of recent vintages, but even a year or two would be good for debate.
@Pokkel (Comment 59) : I see you’ve reverting to using that photo os us from your birthday party as an avatar… š
@Culling Song (Comment 61) :
It’s the best one of the lot! The only one where we aren’t holding cheap whisky bottles in our hands. š
The others wouldn’t have been appropriate on a family site.
@Pokkel (Comment 57) : šÆ I wish, tell me more…
The best fit move wud be for Adi to go to the Vrystaat.
With Corne Uys having moved on, they are a bit short on backup experience.
As much as some people rate Adi, he isn’t a starter in any SA SR team.
His best move wud actually be to a Japanese or Euro Club where he could cash in on the couple of years he has left.
@Salmonoid (Comment 63) :
Oops, I’m confusion you with someone else. š³
Must be the 38 degree heat. š
@Pokkel (Comment 65) : Heat and cheap whisky will do that.
38 is damn hot for Northern Natal.
@Salmonoid (Comment 66) :
It’s kak warm in here today!
@Salmonoid (Comment 66) :
What you need is a half hour thunderstorm, that then clears becoming a calm, windless sunny afternoon and then you need to be at your favourite bass dam for the last hour of daylight. You can throw in a hatch of flying ants as well to make it really special.
@Pokkel (Comment 67) : In late January to early March our temperatures are often in that zone for days and nights on end. Not lekker.
@Salmonoid (Comment 68) :
That does sounds a lot better than the plan my wife already made for me…mowing the lawn after work! š š
Yeah, this heat sucks! Now I’m going to be forced to lounge in the pool when I get home, followed by a leisurely braai and a few beers. Oh, how I long for winter! š
The heat reminds me on a line in a movie.
‘It’s 45 degrees in the shade and there is no f*****g shade!
@Pokkel (Comment 72) : And the movie would be…?
@Culling Song (Comment 73) :
Can’t remember the name. South African movie mid 1990’s??
Thinking thinking!
@Pokkel (Comment 59) : no, but I’m lead to believe it’s a fuckload
@Pokkel (Comment 74) : Were movies even made in SA then? (Other than Leon Schuster ones, that is).
@Culling Song (Comment 73) :
The Angel, the Bicycle and the Chinaman’s finger.
@robdylan (Comment 75) :
It’s not surprising that he keeps getting selected then is it?
@Pokkel (Comment 78) : Money talks, but it don’t sing and dance and it don’t walk… š
I hope I have planted that little tune in your heads now! š
@Pokkel (Comment 67) : you can say that again… I’m not one to complain if its hot but this hot so early….. Not used to it yet
@beet (Comment 64) :
I agree.
@JJR (Comment 45) :
I dont think that the Lions would want/need him.
Hollenbach and Doppies have had very good seasons, Mapoe and Murray should provide cover and there are a bunch of youngsters in the SR training squad.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Taute move to 13 soon.
@Franshark (Comment 81) : Global warming – Maybe now you will think twice before buying a Diesel bakkie! š
@steve (Comment 82) : Don’t think it will happen. Who will play 15 then?
@Ben (Comment 84) : I wouldnt be surprrised to see Ruan Combrinck given some game time there next year.
@Ben (Comment 83) : š
@steve (Comment 85) : But surely not during the S15? Surely they will rather go for the tried and tested.
@Ben (Comment 87) : Currie Cup is more likely – unless forced by injury – just my opinion š
@steve (Comment 88) : But Taute can’t play every game during the S15. I’m guessing Killian will also be used at 15.
@Ben (Comment 87) : Ben. I think there is a misconception going around that rookies can’t make their debut during the SR.
I agree that the tried and tested is the preferred option but 6 months is a long time in a young player’s career. A few young players are going to come of age and will have to be given a run at some stage in SR.
Eg people who’d never heard of Sadie on 01/01/2011 knew exactly who he was by 30/06/2011.
@beet (Comment 90) : Marcell Coetzee made his debut in SR before CC… nuff said
@beet:Good point ,beet.who do you think might just pop up from nowhere so to speak (from the junior ranks) and represent the sharks?
@robdylan: dawie de villiers made his bok debut before his provincial debut..
@beet (Comment 90) : Yes but moving Taute to 13 and playing a debutant at FB is a little far fetched, don’t you think.
I never said he shouldn’t play a game or 3.
@Ben (Comment 94) : What I meant to say was playing a debutant at 15 for most of the S15 and moving Taute to 13.
@beet (Comment 90) : And then there is the added fact that the S15 is the toughest Competition in the World.
Just imagine this backline at the Sharks.
9. Pienaar
10. Lambie
11. Mvovo
12. De Jong
13. Taute
14. JPP
15. Viljoen
How devastating could this be? Okay I should stop day dreaming now..
@Ben (Comment 97) : š
@Ben (Comment 95) : I agree that Killian and even Kamana are good backups in for 15.
Steve did say “some” and didn’t suggest all + Ruan is a good player.
If you’d seen the 19 year old Jaque Fourie playing fullback for the Lions once upon a time, you’d have also said it’s crazy to even think of moving that kid to centre. Trust me, Taute is good but Fourie was a better fullback than Taute is now.
@beet (Comment 99) : Just to make myself clear here, I’m not saying Taute won’t be a great 13. I actually think 13 will suit him much better than 15. What I am saying is I don’t think the Lions will move him from fullback during the S15.
@beet (Comment 99) : Jacque Fourie was very good at FB, just like Brian Habana was a very good centre before they moved positions and became World Class.