Last year’s first-choice tighthead for the Sharks under 21 side, Nick Schonert, will be in the starting line-up for Shimlas this evening as they take on Varsity cup newcomers, Wits.
Schonert, who came up through the ranks in Durban and also played for the South African under 20 side, had been tipped by many to go all the way and become the latest name in a succession of strong number 3s produced by the Sharks Academy for the senior side; however, a glut of talent in the position saw Schonert surprisingly not given a senior contract for 2013, hence his decision to seek pastures new.
We understand that he will play for Shimlas in the Varsity Cup this season, before linking up with Griquas for the remainder of the season.
Packing down on the other side will be Schalk “Hond” van der Merwe, who played a few games for the Cheetahs Currie Cup side last year. Look out for Neill Jordaan at number 8 – he’s a guy who turned down the opportunity to join the Sharks in 2011, despite being offered an Academy bursary while he was in matric at Grey College.
Shimlas team: 15 Marco Mason, 14 Maphutha Dolo, 13 Robbie van Schalkwyk, 12 Reinhardt Erwee, 11 JJ de Klerk, 10 Franna du Toit, 9 Kevin Luiters, 8 Niell Jordaan, 7 Freddie Ngoza, 6 Tyron Schultz, 5 JC Astle, 4 Oupa Mohoje (capt), 3 Nick Schonert, 2 Wickus Deysel, 1 Schalk van der Merwe.
16 Jacques du Toit, 17 Charles Marais, 18 Fanie van der Walt, 19 Erik le Roux, 20 Kay-Kay Hlongwane, 21 Pieter-Steyn de Wet, 22 Divandré Strydom, 23 Carl van Heerden.
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Sorry, but that is wrong. Schonert is good enough for SA U20 but not for Sharks? Watch, we will have to buy him back for a fortune.
@Amateur (Comment 1) : yeah, but to be fair, Wiehahn Herbst, Julian Redelinghuys, Allan Dell and Maks van Dyk were also all good enough for SA U20….
Good luck Nick – not the worst place to play your rugby. Could be useful having Os Du Randt as a mentor as opposed to Ettienne Fynn. See Shimlas had a good win.
hey amateur…..u are so right a local boy with great talent…but we buy in in in in….hope it costs them to bring him back…but for the time time being Shimlas…Cheetahs lets watch
@kagun (Comment 4) : hope he’s doing well there, pity there’s so much depth at the Sharks
not sure about depth……hmmmm kamp staldraad is famous for backing the wrong horse..ask Dale Chadwick he did damn fine now DELL …Come on lets loose the contract boy……
@kagun (Comment 6) : Chadwick is a decent scrummager at loosehead, that’s where it ends. Having watched Allan, would you say he’s only a scrummager and offers nothing else?