Sharks (Super rugby franchise) 710818 225920641 2008-07-16T00:50:06Z 207.172.104.13 /* Captains */ {{Rugby team | teamname = Sharks | image = SharksRugbyClubLogo.jpg | fullname =Sharks | union = [[South African Rugby Union]] | location = [[Durban]], [[South Africa]] | countryflag = South Africa | founded = 1997 | region = [[Durban]]<BR/>[[KwaZulu-Natal Province]] | ground = [[Kings Park Stadium]] | capacity = 55,000<ref name="stadium">{{cite web | title=Brief History of The Absa Stadium Durban | work=Sharks Rugby | url=http://www.sharksrugby.co.za/default.asp?Id=11560&des=content | accessdate=2 February | accessyear=2007}}</ref> | coach = Dick Muir | captain = [[John Smit]] | league = [[Super 14]] | season = [[2006 Super 14 season|2007]] | position = 2nd | url = www.sharksrugby.co.za | pattern_la1=|pattern_b1=_sharksh|pattern_ra1=|leftarm1=000000|body1=CCCCCC|rightarm1=000000|shorts1=000000|socks1=000000| | pattern_la2=|pattern_b2=|pattern_ra2=|leftarm2=FFCC00|body2=000000|rightarm2=FFCC00|shorts2=000000|socks2=000000| }} The '''Sharks''' are a [[South Africa|South African]] [[rugby union]] team competing in the [[Super 14]] competition (Super 10 from 1993-1995 and Super 12 from 1996-2005). They are based in [[Durban]] and centred around the [[Natal Sharks]] union, also based in Durban and drawing players from all of [[KwaZulu-Natal Province]]. In 1993-1995 South Africa was represented in the Super 10 by their three top unions (top three teams from the previous years Currie Cup). Natal (as they were called then) qualified in 1993 and 1994. Natal were runners-up in 1994 after having lost to Queensland 21-10 in the final. In 1996 and 1997 South Africa was represented in the Super 12 by their four top unions rather than franchises, and Natal qualified and competed both years. They have never won the Super 12 competition, but have reached the final three times, as Natal in 1996 and as the Sharks in 2001 and 2007. Through 2005, they drew players from the two unions based in [[Eastern Cape Province]], the Mighty Elephants ([[Port Elizabeth]]) and the Bulldogs ([[East London, South Africa|East London]]), but those unions became the core of the new [[Southern Spears]] franchise that was formed in 2006 and was originally intended to enter the Super 14 in 2007 but was later denied admission. The current team captain is [[South Africa national rugby union team|Springbok]] captain [[John Smit]]. The side contains many other Springbok players including [[JP Pietersen]],[[François Steyn]], [[AJ Venter]], [[Johan Ackerman]], [[Adrian Jacobs]], [[Ruan Pienaar]] and the brothers [[Bismarck du Plessis|Bismarck]] and [[Jannie du Plessis]]. ==History== [[Image:Skrum.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The Cats (now the Lions) playing the Sharks.]] Natal competed in the inaugural Super 10 during the 1993 season. They were in Pool A along with Auckland, Western Samoa, Queensland and Otago. They finished second in the pool on 12 points, behind Auckland on 16. The next season they played in Pool b with New South Wales, Western Samoa, Auckland and Waikato, and finished at the top of the pool to face Pool A winners Queensland in the final in Durban. Natal lost the game 21 to 10. Ntal did not play in the 1995 series. The Natal Sharks played in the first [[Super 12]] season, in 1996. After 11 games the Sharks finished fourth in the final standings, enough to get them through to the finals. They defeated Queensland at Ballymore 43 to 25 to get into the first Super 12 championship game. They finished inaugural runners-up, losing to Auckland 45 to 21 in Auckland. The following season Natal finished fourth once again, but lost their semi-final against Auckland. In 1998 the Coastal Sharks (as the team was now styled) won 7 of their 11 games, and finished in their best position yet, third place. They were however defeated by the [[Crusaders (rugby)|Crusaders]] in the semi finals. The following season the Sharks missed the finals, finishing 7th. In 2000 the Sharks finished last in the final standings. However the next season they came second - at the time their best ever finish - and after defeating the [[Cats (rugby)|Cats]], went to Canberra for the final, which they lost against the [[Brumbies (rugby)|Brumbies]]. In 2002 the Sharks missed the finals after finishing 10th on the season table. The following season they came 11th. 2004 was a better season for the team, coming in at 7th after the regular season. However in 2005 saw them slump to 12th. In 2006 the Super 12 expanded and became the Super 14. In the first Super 14 season the Sharks narrowly missed the finals, missing out on a 4th place finish on [[Goal difference|points difference]]. In 2007 they were top of the table and became the first South African side to host a Super 12 or 14 final. The Sharks fought hard in the final but lost to the Bulls after a controversial try by [[Bryan Habana]]. ==The Sharks Brand== {{Image label begin|image=SharksRugbyClubLogo.jpg|caption=Sharks Logo|width={{{width|145}}}|float={{{float|right}}}}} {{Image label end}} After being informally called the Banana Boys for a substantial amount of time it was decided in 1995 that the whole offering would go ahead with new branding - The Sharks. The Sharks mascot was launched in 1995 but the rebranding went into full swing in 1996. To achieve this a substantial budget was allocated to refine this vision that would include the match, facilities, the pre and post match activities and the team. There was initially significant resistance from many quarters. This resistance was ascribed to the traditional attitudes of the rugby loving stake holders. However the strategy was successful and the success of the marketing has been widely acknowledged. Crowd attendances, merchandising, season and suite holder season ticket sales have all been very successful. The brand is now internationally recognised and the branding strategy is reaping dividends for all its stakeholders.<ref name=Sharksbrand>{{cite web | publisher=sharksrugby.co.za| title=The Sharks Brand | url=http://www.sharksrugby.co.za/default.asp?Id=12178&des=content| accessdate=23 April | accessyear=2007}}</ref> ==Stadium== [[Kings Park Stadium]] in [[Durban]] is the home ground of the Sharks. It is also known for sponsorship reasons as [[ABSA Stadium]]. It currently has a capacity of 55,000. As well as the Sharks team, it is also used during the [[Currie Cup]] for the [[Natal Sharks]], as well as soccer games. The grounds were originally built in 1891, but have been worked on numerous times. A major upgrade occurred for the [[1995 Rugby World Cup]].<ref name="stadium">{{cite web | title=Brief History of The Absa Stadium Durban | work=Sharks Rugby | url=http://www.sharksrugby.co.za/default.asp?Id=11560&des=content | accessdate=2 February | accessyear=2007}}</ref> ==Franchise area== {{Image label begin|image=South Africa Provinces showing KZ.png|caption=The geographical area covered by The Sharks|width={{{width|250}}}|float={{{float|right}}}}} {{Image label end}} The Sharks franchise covers the province of [[KwaZulu-Natal]]. The two main cities from which most of its players are drawn are [[Durban]] and [[Pietermaritzburg]]. ==Super Rugby positions== ===Super 12 placings=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- | colspan=12 | '''Super 12 Results''' |- ! Year !! Played !! Win !! Draw !! Loss !! PF !! PA !! Diff !! BP !! Points !! Place !! Playoffs |- ! 1996 |11|| 6 || 0 || 5 || 389 || 277 || 112 ||9 || 33 || 2nd||Lost final against Auckland |- ! 1997 |11|| 5 || 2 || 4 || 321 || 350 || -29 || 6 || 30 || 4th||Lost semi-final against Auckland |- ! 1998 |11|| 7 || 0 || 4 || 329 || 263 || 66 || 8 || 36 || 3rd||Lost semi-final against Crusaders |- ! 1999 |11|| 5 || 1 || 5 || 241 || 232 || 9 || 3 || 25 || 7th|| |- ! 2000 |11|| 1 || 1 || 9 || 235 || 341 || -106 || 3 || 9 || 12th|| |- ! 2001 |11|| 8 || 0 || 3 || 322 || 246 || 76 || 6 || 38 || 2nd||Lost final against Brumbies |- ! 2002 |11|| 4 || 0 || 7 || 183 || 308 || -125 || 3 || 19 || 10th|| |- ! 2003 |11|| 3 || 0 || 8 || 239 || 306 || -67 || 5 || 17 || 11th|| |- ! 2004 |11|| 5 || 0 || 6 || 267 || 305 || -38 || 8 || 28 || 7th|| |- ! 2005 |11|| 1 || 1 || 9 || 205 || 384 || -179 || 5 || 11 || 12th|| |} ===Super 14 placings=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- | colspan=12 | '''Super 14 Results''' |- ! Year !! Played !! Win !! Draw !! Loss !! PF !! PA !! Diff !! BP !! Points !! Place !! Playoffs |- ! 2006 |13|| 7 || 0 || 6 || 361 || 297 || 64 || 10 || 38 || 5th|| Missed play offs on Points Difference |- ! 2007 |13|| 10 || 0 || 3 || 355 || 214 || 141 || 5 || 45 || 2nd|| Lost final against Bulls |} ==Current squad== The following is a list of Sharks players for the 2008 season. All players are South Africans unless otherwise indicated.<ref name="SharksSquad">{{cite web| url=http://www.sharksrugby.co.za/default.asp?cId=15342&des=content |title=Sharks Super 14 Player Profiles |publisher=sharksrugby.co.za |accessdate=2008-02-12}}</ref> {| class="toccolours" style="border-collapse: collapse;" |- |valign="top"| '''Props''' * [[BJ Botha]] * [[Deon Carstens]] * [[Patric Cilliers]] * [[Jannie du Plessis]] * [[Robbie Harris]] * [[Kees Lensing]] * {{flagicon|ZIM}} [[Tendai Mtawarira]] '''Hookers''' * {{flagicon|NAM}} [[Skipper Badenhorst]] * [[Craig Burden]] * [[Bismarck du Plessis]] * [[Jody Jenneker]] '''Locks''' * [[Johan Ackermann]] (retired)<ref>Ackermann retired immediately after the Sharks' Round 3 match against the [[Bulls (rugby)|Bulls]] on [[1 March]] [[2008]]. {{cite web|url=http://www.sharksrugby.co.za/default.asp?id=246455&des=article |title=It's a Bonus for the Sharks |publisher=Sharks Rugby |date=[[2008-03-01]] |accessdate=2008-03-04}}</ref> * [[Alistair Hargreaves]] * [[Johann Muller (rugby)|Johann Muller]] * [[Johan Snyman]] * [[Steven Sykes]] * [[Albert van den Berg]] |width="33"|&nbsp; |valign="top"| '''Flankers''' * [[Nicolai Blignaut]] * [[Jacques Botes]] * [[Keegan Daniel]] * [[AJ Venter]] '''Number 8s''' * [[Jean Deysel]] * [[Ryan Kankowski]] * [[Epi Taione]] '''Scrum Halves''' * [[Rory Kockott]] * [[Scott Mathie]] * [[Charl McLeod]] * [[Ruan Pienaar]] '''Fly Halves''' * {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Frédéric Michalak]] * [[François Steyn]] |width="33"|&nbsp; |valign="top"| '''Centres''' * [[Bradley Barritt]] * [[Adrian Jacobs]] * [[Waylon Murray]] * [[Andries Strauss]] * {{flagicon|TGA}} [[Epi Taione]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sharksrugby.co.za/default.asp?des=article&id=244060 |title=Super 14 Squad |publisher=sharksrugby.co.za |date=[[2008-02-12]] |accessdate=2008-02-12}}<br>Taione will join the team once his current team, [[Sanyo Wild Knights]], end their run in the [[Top League|Japanese league]] playoffs.</ref> '''Wingers''' * [[Henno Mentz]] * [[Odwa Ndungane]] * [[Frank Wagenstroom]] * [[JP Pietersen]] '''Full Backs''' * [[Stefan Terblanche]] |} ===In for 2008=== *[[Jannie du Plessis]] (from [[Central Cheetahs|Vodacom Cheetahs]]) *[[Charl McLeod]] (from [[Falcons (rugby team)|Valke]]) *{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Frédéric Michalak]] (from [[Stade Toulousain|Toulouse]]) *{{flagicon|TGA}} [[Epi Taione]] (from [[Sanyo Wild Knights]]) *[[Stefan Terblanche]] (from [[Ospreys (rugby team)|Ospreys]]) ===Out for 2008=== * [[Gcobani Bobo]] (to [[Stormers]]) * [[Warren Britz]] * [[Butch James]] (to [[Bath Rugby|Bath]]) * Cedric Mkhize * [[Percy Montgomery]] (to [[USA Perpignan|Perpignan]]) * Dusty Noble (to [[Lions (Super rugby franchise)|Lions]]) * Sandile Nxumalo * Grant Rees * Dewald Senekal (to Lions) * [[Bobby Skinstad]] (retired) * [[John Smit]] (to [[ASM Clermont Auvergne|Clermont]]) ==Coaches== Between 1996 and 1999 the Sharks were coached by former Springbok coach [[Ian McIntosh]], with [[Hugh Reece-Edwards]] as his assistant.<ref name="McIlraith329">McIlraith (2005), pg 329.</ref> In 2000 Reece-Edwards took over as coach with [[Jake White]] and [[Alister Coetzee]] as assistants. All three were replaced the following year however as [[Rudolf Straeuli]] was appointed coach, with [[Kobus van der Merwe]] as his assistant. In 2002 [[Clinton Isaacs]] replaced van der Merwe as Straeuli's assistant. The partnership did not last however, as both were replaced before the season had finished. [[Kevin Putt]] was appointed as Straeuli's replacement, and [[Theo van Rensburg]] as assistant. Isaacs returned as Putt's assistant in 2003, and the two continued to coach the team until after the 2005 season.<ref name="McIlraith329"/> [[Dick Muir]] replaced Putt for 2006 and has been head coach since, with [[John Plumtree]] as his assistant. Plumtree took over the head coaching position for the 2007 Currie Cup, whilst Muir took time off to add to his qualifications and learn from some of the most successful coaches in rugby history, such as Sir [[Clive Woodward]]. ==Captains== * [[Gary Teichmann]] (1996 - 1999) * [[Wayne Fyvie]] (2000) * [[Mark Andrews (rugby player)|Mark Andrews]] (2001 - 2002) * [[Shaun Sowerby]] (2003) * [[John Smit]] (2004 - 2007) * [[Johann Muller (rugby)|Johann Muller]] (2008) * [[John Smit]] (2008-) ==Records== Team and individual:<ref name="sharks">{{cite web | title=Sharks | work=CRFU | url=http://www.crfu.co.nz/main/index.cfm/1,404,html/Sharks | accessdate=2 February | accessyear=2007}}</ref> ===Team=== * '''Most points in a match:''' 73 (v Elephants, 2007) * '''Most points in a season:''' 509(2007) * '''Most tries in a match:''' 12 (v Elephants, 2007) * '''Most tries in a season: ''' 98(2007) * '''Biggest winning margin:''' 61 (v Elephants, 2007) ===Individual=== * '''Most games in a career:''' 84 ([[Ollie le Roux]]) * '''Most points in a match:''' 50 (Gavin Lawless, v Highlanders, 1997) * '''Most points in a season:''' 170 (Gavin Lawless, 1997) * '''Most points in a career:''' 361 (Butch James) * '''Most tries in a match:''' 4 (Gavin Lawless, v Highlanders, 1997), 4 (Stefan Terblanche, v Chiefs, 1998) * '''Most tries in a season:''' 13 ([[James Small (rugby player)|James Small]], 1996) * '''Most tries in a career:''' 29 (Stefan Terblanche) * '''Most conversions in a match:''' 9 (Gavin Lawless, v Highlanders, 1997) * '''Most conversions in a season:''' 25 (Gavin Lawless, 1997) * '''Most conversions in a career:''' 64 (Henry Honiball) * '''Most penalty goals in a match:''' 7 (Gavin Lawless, v NSW Waratahs, 1997) * '''Most penalty goals in a season:''' 30 (Gavin Lawless, 1997) * '''Most penalty goals in a career:''' 73 (Butch James) * '''Most drop goals in a match:''' 1 * '''Most drop goals in a season:''' 2 (Butch James, 2003), Tony Brown (2006) * '''Most drop goals in a career:''' 3 (Butch James) ==Honours== * '''[[Super 14|Super 12/14]]''' ** Runners-up: [[1996 Super 12 season|1996]] ** Runners-up: [[2001 Super 12 season|2001]] ** Semi-finalists: [[1997 Super 12 season|1997]] ** Semi-finalists: [[1998 Super 12 season|1998]] ** First South African team to finish top of the super rugby log [[2007 super 14 season|2007]] ==References== {{reflist}} ==Bibliography== * {{cite book | last = Howitt | first = Bob | date = 2005 | title = SANZAR Saga - Ten Years of Super 12 and Tri-Nations Rugby | publisher = Harper Collins Publishers | id = ISBN 1-86950-566-2 }} * {{Cite book |last=McIlraith|first= Matt |date=2005 |title=Ten Years of Super 12 |publisher=Hodder Moa |id=ISBN 1-86971-025-8 }} ==External links== *[http://www.sharksrugby.co.za/ Sharks rugby Official site] {{Super Rugby}} {{Rugby union in South Africa}} [[Category:Super 14 teams]] [[Category:South African rugby union teams]] [[de:Sharks]] [[fr:Sharks (rugby)]] [[pt:Sharks]]