Sharks: Francois Venter named as new skipper
A new look Sharks side will depart for a tour that starts their 2023/24 United Rugby Championship (URC) campaign.
A new look Sharks side will depart for a tour that starts their 2023/24 URC campaign.
You don’t get a much tougher start to the season than facing defending Munster in Limerick.
NEW SKIPPER FOR THE SHARKS
ALSO READ: Aphiwe Dyantyi could make his comeback as early as THIS weekend!
Francois “Swys” Venter will lead an experienced Sharks side on their tour to Europe for the upcoming United Rugby Championship season, which kicks off this weekend.
Head coach John Plumtree has selected Venter as his tour captain, the former Free State inside centre making a name for himself in Bloemfontein, with his physical abilities and leadership qualities recognised at SA Schools, SA Under 20, Barbarians, SA ‘A’ and Springbok levels, having accumulated seven test caps for South Africa.
ALSO READ: All the ins and outs for the South African URC franchises
SHARKS BANK ON EXPERIENCE
The experienced centre will have the likes of Phepsi Buthelezi, Reniel Hugo, James Venter and Sikhumbuzo Notshe to call on for their experience and leadership over the course of the tour.
ALSO READ: Challenges posed before the Rugby World Cup semi-finals
With the Springboks away on Rugby World Cup duty, Plumtree has, nevertheless, quality and experience to call on as the Hollywoodbets Sharks kick their 2023/24 VURC campaign off against Irish giants Munster on Saturday (kick-off at 6.15pm) and then Leinster the following Saturday.
Two Friday night matches follow, against Ospreys and then Zebre before the team return to Hollywoodbets Kings Park for a run of home games.
ALSO READ: Rassie Erasmus says there is ‘beef between Springboks and England
Fans get the opportunity to welcome back crowd favourite, prop Coenie Oosthuizen, while loose-forward George Cronje has continued the kind of form that had him starring for the Cheetahs before being lured to Durban and he will relish every opportunity he gets to repay The Sharks confidence in him.
The 28-man squad includes 16 forwards and 12 backs, amongst the latter, former Springbok scrumhalf Francois Hougaard will look to add his vast experience to the side in this tough opening month.
Aphiwe Dyantyi, another new off-season signing, will also approach this tour as an opportunity to show why he is so highly rated. Nothing would give him – and his coaches – more pleasure than seeing him perform to his true potential.
The Hollywoodbets Sharks depart for tour this evening and will head straight to Ireland to prepare for their opening match this Saturday.
TOUR SQUAD
Forwards
Coenie Oosthuizen
Corne Rahl
Dan Jooste
Dian Bleuler
Dylan Richardson
Emile van Heerden
George Cronje
Hanro Jacobs
James Venter
Kerron van Vuuren
Khwezi Mona
Ntuthuko Mchunu
Phepsi Buthelezi
Reniel Hugo
Sikumbuzo Notshe
Vincent Tshituka
BACKS
Aphelele Fassi
Aphiwe Dyantyi
Boeta Chamberlain
Cameron Wright
Curwin Bosch
Francois Hougaard
Francois Venter (c)
Marnus Potgieter
Mthokozisi Mkhabela
Murray Koster
Rohan Janse van Rensburg
Werner Kok