The Sharks wasted no time in following up on the unfortunate du Toit announcement with the confirmation that no fewer than 15(!!) current senior squad members have committed (or recommitted) their future to the black and white.
Heading up the list of contract renewals is Bok flanker Marcell Coetzee, who has penned a new two-year Super Rugby deal that will keep him in Durban until at least the end of the 2017 campaign. Coetzee, as announced earlier, will play in Japan during the 2015 and 2016 Currie Cup seasons.
Bok prop Tendai Mtawarira – who many feared would be looking at a French payday after this year’s World Cup – has instead committed his future to the Sharks as well, with Lwazi Mvovo also penning a new Sharks deal. Tera Mtembu, Kyle Cooper, Lourens Adriaanse, Etienne Oosthuizen and Franco Marais have also extended, joining Pat Lambie, Cobus Reinach, Stephan Lewies, Thomas du Toit, Andre Esterhuizen, S’bura Sithole and Jean Deysel, who all signed long-term contracts in the last year.
Well done the Sharks for retaining the core of their squad and a big well done to all the players on their new deals! It’s a great privilege to have you as part of our black and white family.
Tweet
Marcell would have been a bigger lose than PSDT imo.
Great stuff Sharks
@Seth101 (Comment 1) : Based on contributions to date, very fair comment.
@Seth101 (Comment 1) : Couldn’t agree more.
Thanks for the loyalty guys. Much appreciated.
We need more players like Thomas du Toit. Shark through and through.
Now this us awesome news!
PSDT is a big loss, but the names on the new squad list are a much bigger win – think about Beast and Marcel to begin with! 😆
I do not see Steyn’s name in the mix??
@Seth101 (Comment 1) : that is no understatement that,and beside EO the rest of the new resignees are no real great shakes anyway
At least some good news today
not on your list
SP Marais
Tyler Fisher
Garth April
Odwa Ndungane
JP Pietersen
Sizo Maseko
Tonderai Chavhanga
Jack Wilson
Paul Perez
Heimar Williams
Paul Jordaan
Waylon Murray
Francois Steyn
Radebe Innocent
Conrad Hoffmann
Lionel Cronje
Hanco Venter
Dale Chadwick
Lourens Adriaanse
Monde Hadebe
Christiaan de Bruin
Wiehan Hay
JC Astle
Marco Wentzel
Mouritz Botha
Lubabalo ‘Giant’ Mtyanda
Hyron Andrews
Jean-Luc du Preez
Francois Klenhans
Ryan Kankowski
Renaldo Bothma
Khaya Majola
Daniel Du Preez
Alcino Isaacs
Juan Schoeman
Denford
Charles Mayeza
Wade Elliot
Brendon Groenewald
@steve haag (Comment 11) : Steve Paul Perez and Jack Wilson have already left (or are in the process of leaving) if I recall. Giant and Renaldo were on loan from the Pumas but wouldn’t mind seeing more of either at the Sharks.
@steve haag (Comment 11) : @vanmartin (Comment 12) : Bothma will return with Giant for SR next year,
Venter as signed for NW province and Adriaanse has resigned with the Sharks and is on the renewal list
While the loss of PSDT is lamentable, the two signatures we absolutely *had* to secure in my opinion (Marcel and Pat) have now been locked down. Add to that the lack of any rash Epi Taone/Kees Lensing/ Conrad Hoffman type signings, and things are looking up!
@Ben (Comment 6) : Amen
@Culling Song (Comment 14) : 😆 Hoffman had to be in that mix huh? lmao
Terrific. All we need now is a coach.
@sharks_lover (Comment 16) : Surely you did not think I’d let that one slide…?
We gave Adriaanse a new contract??? 😯 😯
@Culling Song (Comment 18) : I dont mind, the guy never got a fear chance to establish himself and play through a rough patch if he had to, he was mr consistent at the cheetahs/griquas
Losing PSDT is not ideal but I can live with it so long as we kept Marcell
My thing is, Im not upset if players leave, even for other unions, but the timing of his departure was not ideal, we groomed him for greatness, and his established himself as being a high level 5, but his on 22 couldnt he have given us another 4 or even 2 years, really he havent had 1 solid year from him yet, and from what I hear he was well compensated
look when the kid played he was really good. So i would have preferred another few years of him. I can understand if he misses his fam in cape town, or as reported tht his GF is from cape town, but it can be all that bad being a pro rugby player in durbs can it ?
Well best of luck too him. WP can send us elstadt. Or someone call paul willimse in france. Poor ruan botha and juan kleyn. Atleast province fans have seen the seen the last of manual carrisa lol, whose huge but technically inept
Jaaaaaaaaaa…
@Seth101 (Comment 1) : That I agree with whole-heartedly!!!
I’m so chuffed to hear it confirmed that Beast is also staying!
That is great, thanks for committing. Beast showing his loyalty to the union, I really thought that he would be looking at Europe after the RWC. Also very happy about Marcel obviously.
We should really ensure that we get our VC players more exposure. What happens to most of these guys after VC? They sit around waiting for a call up to seniors for CC? If so shouldn’t there be more tornament invitational etc. To keep these guys sharp?
Our previous leadership team is is now disbanded. Beast Marcel Mvovo should be promoted into that circle now. Thanks for the loyalty guys. Especially to my unsung hero Lwazi Mvovo who has always been loyal always gives his all.
@coolfusion (Comment 25) : They’ll either play age group rugby, or club rugby (as far as I know)
Excellent news to have some of the core resigning and with us for at least a while.
I think its critical to any team and coach that you end up with a bunch of guys who really want to be here and want to play for this team. Highlanders showed how much passion and commitment for the team far outweighs any big name signings.
@revolverocelot (Comment 20) :
Jean Kleyn and Ruan Botha are both decent players. I wouldn’t mind getting one of them.
So far out:
Bismarck du Plessis
Jannie du Plessis
Willem Alberts
Pieter Steph du Toit
So far in:
Willie le Roux
Coenie Oosthuizen
Wandile Mjekevu
Jacques Potgieter
Michael Claassens
Phillip van der Walt
Joe Pietersen
Dave McDuling
Massive players to lose, but some good quality signings to offset the losses.
Add that to holding on to players like Marcel Coetzee, Pat Lambie, Beast Mtawarira ect. I think the blow of the losses has been more than cushioned. I think the Sharks have build a strong looking squad to build to SR2016.
I like that 5 of our 8 new signings will be joining us during CC already. That gives us good momentum going into SR. That will also offset the fact that we will have a few players joining us late from Japan.
Thank you very much Marcel.
@Letgo (Comment 30) : Boet, I still ask the question, is F Steyn staying? I know JpP is staying and is playing in Japan in the CC season as well as his international obligations
If we realy want to look at loyalty I salute Patrick L.
This is absolutely fantastic! So glad we are holding on to such quality players. Especially Marcell and Lambie. Good goings guys! 😀 😀
@Another Nick (Comment 34) : Ya, congratulations to all the guys that have decided to stay. This PSDT fiasco has made me really appreciate our players.
@sharks_lover (Comment 32) : Boet? 😆
@GreatSharksays (Comment 35) : So much! And I think credit must go to Smittie & co. We so fast to blast them when we loose a player, but when we manage to keep quality like this then nothing. So well done management!
@Ben (Comment 36) :
Eish I forgot Letgo is a Hunty 😆
Will be great if PSdT is fit for Springbok duty and injured for Stormers. Cheers. Beast is now a true Shark legend.
Great news!!!! So glad they extended their contracts!!!!!
@Letgo (Comment 30) : must say for me of the four players leaving Bizzy is the greatest loss. Nothing against Albert’s and PSDT but both of them played in less than 10 games during the past two seasons.
Seems the Coenie acquisition takes the medical aid tab off the Cheetahs.
Lol, we lost Willie, but Coenie van Wyk and Blommetjies have shown promise. Willie unlikely to feature much with bok commitments in CC. Remains to be seen if he is afforded the freedom roam he was accustomed to at the Cheetahs.
Still waiting for soemCheetahs news, but Rhule, Sergeal Pietersen and Benjamin are good wingers. Venter and now William Small Smith will be a good attacking centre combo. Zeilinga, Sias and Neil Marais solid options at 10.
Boom Prinsloo has been exceptional, Willie Britz back from injury, and Tienie Burger, Mohoje, Tienie Burger, Gerhard Olivier and Neill Jordan all showed promise.
Good de Jager is a big signing for us, and together with Uys, Carl Wegner and Boela Serfontein back from injury, we will be ok for locks.
Rautenbach signed from WP together with Dweba and Torsten gives us options at 2.
Nche, BG Uys, are props. Still waiting to see who is contracted, but the scrums were at least competitive in the last two matches.
Raw, but the Lions showed what can be achieved with relative newcomers.
Franco showing early promise. Not many teams thrash the bulls at Moftus with a few Vodacom Cup team players in a Super rugby match.
@KingCheetah (Comment 42) : Moftus. I like it! 🙂
@KingCheetah (Comment 42) : Willie is contracted for supers not cc as far as I know.
We the fans should have some player appreciation events just to show our boys we so appreciate them and are happy that they choose our union to play for.
A coach that I think will do well in Durban is Todd Blackadder (sorry, spelling). Would still like Stonehouse to sort out our forwards. I fear all this silence will leave us with egg on our face. Gert Smal is all over the show. His latest engagement was with Robbie Deans. Flip, I really slept better when White was still with us. John should have allowed him to be DOR and appointed a proper head coach. How is Gold meant to compete with Smal and Cape Town?
Message to Gary….Hope you have already signed JJ vd Merscht for 5 years after school.
@GreatSharksays (Comment 47) : you’re not allowed to sign a player until he turns 18