Sharks turn to familiar face to help turn around fortunes

The Sharks will reappoint John Plumtree in a bid to restore some pride on the Kings Park pitch.

The 57-year-old New Zealander left the Sharks in 2012 after a successful stint, but will return in July, reports IOL.

Most recently, he served in All Blacks’ backroom team until 2022 off the back of a spell with the Hurricanes.

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BLAST FROM THE PAST

Plumtree is well known in the Sharks circles and will take over from Neil Powell, who is moving full-time into the Director of Rugby role.

Powell was a stop-gap replacement for Sean Everitt, who left in November 2022, after a string of poor showings on the pitch.

For all their spending on players over the past two seasons, the Durban franchise has struggled to impose themselves on the United Rugby Championship (URC).

They were knocked out by the Bulls in the quarter-finals last season and are tracking to make the same stage this season.

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Plumtree has a rich history with the Sharks which included 80 games for Natal in the early 90s and a Currie Cup win in 1990 over Northern Transvaal.

He was also part of the coaching set-up that lost the Super 14 final in 2007 before going on to coach the Sharks to their first Currie Cup in 12 years.

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SHARK TANK GETTING A CLEAN OUT

Plumtree will need a whole new team around him with Irishman Noel McNamara, Georgian scrum coach Akvsenti Giorgadze, French forwards consultant Yannick Bru and conditioning coach Allan Temple-Jones all ending their stays in Durban.

It is also reported that attack specialist David Williams, who worked during Everitt’s time in charge, will return.

The same source believes influential centre Lukhanyo Am requested Williams’ return.

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