Hard to believe, isn’t it, that in just 10 days’ time, the Sharks will reconvene start with pre-season work ahead of the 2015 Super Rugby season.
As fans, this period of the year is always the hardest. As the players take a well-earned rest and we focus on the inevitable post-mortems, it’s the lack of new news (if that’s not redundant) that really gets us down. For those who are as passionate about this brand and this team as I am, even just a few weeks without any Sharks happenings to report on and discuss seems like an unpleasant eternity.
Now, the interesting thing is that for some Sharks – those in the so-called “Grey Squad” – the pre-season has already begun. Comprising contracted junior players and a few fringe seniors, that unit will make up the bulk of the Sharks reserve strength this season. It’s anticipated that players from that squad will form the mainstay of the Vodacom Cup team, with many of them then playing for the Sharks under 19 and under 21 teams later in the year.
This wider training squad, for want of a better term, will stay together pretty much all year, under the guidance of new Head of Junior Rugby, Ryan Strudwick and this concept, it is hoped, will allow far better cohesion and progression through the playing ranks for young players coming to the Sharks.
While the youngsters are hard at work, though, the senior will enjoy ten more days of glorious rest before re-convening for yet another tough pre-season (under yet another coaching regime). Enjoy it while you can, boys…. 2015 is going to be another hell of a season, I’m sure.
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Hope BV is starting in 10 days as well
My favourite part of the app has to be the notification of new posts. No more checking in every hour to see if there is any new news.
@JarsonX (Comment 2) : ha…. down side for me is my traffic has tailed off as a result 🙂
@JarsonX (Comment 1) : so what I was told is that BV is obviously going to be quite heavily involved during pre-season, while Gary is still in Japan. Not sure if that’s true.
I would certainly hope he’d rock up on the 17th though.
@robdylan (Comment 4) : Makes sense that BV should be there whilst GG is abroad. The sooner they work on problem areas the better.
Rob, who’s brainchild was the grey squad? Existing or new coaches? If it’s a JW relic I have a concern that it might be ignored by the new coaches
@vanmartin (Comment 6) : I don’t know…. bu I think it’s a concept that everyone still buys into.
I mean, it’s a no brainer to have a sort of HP squad that keeps all the best players together throughout the year.
As for your article, Rob – You are sooooooo right regarding lack of Sharks news during this time of the year. I’m just fortunate that I have 2008, 2010, and 2013 curry cup matches from beginning to the finals on dvd. I also have the 2007 World Cup Rugby on dvd. All SA’s pool matches, all quarter finals and both semi-finals and the Super Final. So with the lack of current news I just bury myself in the past. It’s quite nice to see all the old players again! It sure helps the dry period!
@robdylan (Comment 3) : so using the app does not reflect on your web trafic? The especially for you I will still log onto the site at least once a day (if I remember)!!!!!! 😉
@robdylan (Comment 7) : Any idea who is in the Grey Squad?
It would be great to know so as to get insight into who the upcoming juniors are and which of the seniors are considered fringe players.
@JD (Comment 9) : well, it’s more the fact that the app notifications prompt you to check the site only when there’s a new post, rather than obsessively clicking the refresh button every 5 minutes 🙂
@ChrisS (Comment 10) : I have a pretty good idea yes, but I need to get permission before I share it.
@robdylan (Comment 12) : You should rename it to the ghost squad.
These days, when it comes to the Sharks, I take no news as being good news.
I remember a time when you forgot about rugby from the CC final in October until the club championship in Durban over Easter.
@robdylan (Comment 3) : I must congratulate you on this app, Rob. If you didn’t know better, you’d never guess you were in an Android environment…!
@Culling Song (Comment 16) : I think it starts with genuinely wanting to provide a good quality experience and then making sure you do enough testing to ensure that.
I don’t think it’s a common approach amongst people who publish stuff to the Play store. Apple, on the other hand, won’t approve your app if you don’t.
Lions still praying for a sponsor …
@Zibbie (Comment 18) : surely you have one? What about Xerox?
@Zibbie (Comment 18) : Dont stress, they will get a good one, maybe someone like Dylanator App Universe.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 20) : Not bleeding likely, unless I start charging money for this thing.
@robdylan (Comment 21) : Zibbie and friends are dying to give you millions. Remember the Snoil – it works the wrong way round with these guys.
@robdylan (Comment 19) : Maybe Lion lager as it’s for sale again in SA?
@robdylan (Comment 11) : Ja I miss the good old days………… 😉
@robdylan (Comment 17) : If a love for something is involved the end product is always better!!!! Nice app Rob!!!
@robdylan (Comment 12) : You now my Skype works brilliantly when it comes to fresh news lol
@robdylan (Comment 7) : I also thought continuing the rotation policy Brendan introduced last year was a no-brainer. And then Bissie gets injured… Turns out the coaches are necessarily always as enlightened as we are 😉
Just got home from work and still I felt the need to check for any new Sharks news….I can’t wait for everything to kickstart again!! I reckon this is an ideal time for those great interviews with players from the past? Anyone know if Eugene van Staden still playing?Have not heard his name in ages!
Hi all! I’ve been missing for a while! Sorry about that…hectic time!
Great to see Strudders (Ryan Strudwick) involved in the Sharks setup. Good on you mate! He was my First Team rugby captain at school. Good man…