As part of the United Rugby Championship’s social purpose strategy, Take On Tomorrow, and the wider ambition to promote inclusion in sport, the BKT URC have been working on an activation in support of the Stonewall Rainbow Laces campaign.

This weekend the BKT United Rugby Championship is proud to announce the launch of the Unity Round. The most colourful and inspirational round of the leagues season as the BKT URC dedicates a weekend to promoting inclusivity in sport, with rugby and the BKT URC eager to change mindsets and showcase that our events and games should be a welcome space for everyone.

It is about respect and recognition. The belief of equality with ongoing activities that embrace inclusiveness as the norm and not the exception.

The weekend will start with Zebre Parma playing host to Cardiff Rugby at the Stadio Lanfranchi on the March 24 and concludes with Ulster playing against the Vodacom Bulls in Belfast on Saturday, March 25.

Players, match officials & wider team management have been given the choice to wear the Rainbow Laces on their boots or trainers. Rainbow coloured strapping will also be made available to the players to wear.

At all match venues, BKT URC branding will be updated incorporating the rainbow progress flag along with new assistant referee flags. Ahead of Unity Round this weekend, all BKT URC social channels will have a complete rebrand to include the rainbow colours. Content specially created for Unity Round will also be shared throughout the week.

The BKT URC has been working in support of the Stonewall Rainbow Laces campaign and emphasising the message that everyone in the LGBTQ+ community should feel comfort and contentment in wanting to be a part of the sport.

Since the launch of Rainbow Laces in 2013, more than a million people have laced up to light up the visibility that there be no discrimination of people in society, which extends to the sporting fields.

The BKT URC fully believes that rugby is a game for all.

Join us and ensure that disrespectful language, attitudes and abuse have no place in our sport!

United. We. Rise.

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The Cell C Sharks Under 20s are in round five action of the SA Rugby Under 20 Cup on Saturday when they host their Toyota Free State age group counterparts at Hollywoodbets Kings Park as they look to keep their unbeaten record intact.

Their top of the table clash with the Lions Under 20s last weekend heralded a 33-all draw, with the Cell C Sharks Under 20s outscoring their Johannesburg rivals five tries to four. That draw came off the back of victories over DHL Western Province and the Vodacom Blue Bulls.

Both of last week’s sides remain unbeaten, with the Lions top of the log having played an extra game. The Cell C Sharks Under 20s, in second spot on the log with 12 out of a maximum 15 points, will be chasing a third victory in the tournament when they come up against a Free State side that currently sits in third position on the log with two wins and a loss in their three games to date.

After naming the exact same side for the last two games, head coach JP Pietersen has made a number of changes to the side for this match.

Robert Everson replacing Dian Heunis in the front row is the first of four changes to the pack, with Thomas Dyer coming in for Coetzee Le Roux in the second row and

Kevin Tshituka and Alethwa Buthelezi taking over from Meno Barnard and Jannes Potgieter respectively amongst the back row changes.

There are a further three changes to the backline, Christian Els replacing Michael Koch at scrumhalf, Sphamandla Ngcobo in for Themba Sibisi on the wing and Hakeem Kunene the fullback replacement for PJ Venter.

Saturday’s match at KP 2 kicks off at 1pm.

Cell C Sharks Under 20s

1. Phathu Ganyane
2. Bryce Calvert
3. Robert Everson
4. Thomas Dyer
5. Luca Ribbens
6. Khumo Nkutha
7. Kevin Tshituka
8. Alethwa Buthelezi
9. Christian Els
10. Jean Smith
11. Banie Britz
12. Ethan Hooker (c)
13. Ryan Manuel
14. Spha Ngcobo
15. Hakeem Kunene

Replacements

16. Marnus Winter
17. Dylan Willis
18. Dian Heunis
19. Dylan Moore Boyle
20. Torbyn Visser
21. Ian de Fouw
22. Stehan Heymans
23. Jurenzo Julius

The post Maintaining Form appeared first on The Sharks.

The Cell C Sharks kicked off their Currie Cup campaign with a bonus point, five-try-to-one 32-16 victory over the NovaVit Griffons at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Saturday afternoon.

The team from Welkom won promotion to the Premier Division by virtue of winning last year’s Currie Cup First Division and while for the opening hour they showed they are worthy competitors in the competition, but once the Cell C Sharks asserted their dominance, there was really only one team that was going to emerge victorious.

The Griffons came to play and despite the harsh weather conditions, a hot and humid summer’s day in Durban , they certainly delivered.  The fact that they led for the first 50 minutes of the match showed just how gamely they played and with such intent. But the heat and pressure ultimately got the best of them, while the game and flow management from the Cell C Sharks proved the difference in the final analysis.

It was all Griffons in the opening eight minutes as they stayed camped in the Cell C Sharks half, two incursions being thwarted by good defence, but on the third occasion, they managed to make good, scoring in the corner, with the touchline conversion pushing them into an early, 7-nil lead.

A scrum penalty pushed the visitors into a 10 point lead before the referee blew time for a water break at the end of the first quarter.

The ensuing 10 minutes belonged to the Cell C Sharks who had a try disallowed when the ball was held up over the line, but on the half hour, a promising attack was killed by a trip, which resulted in a yellow card for the Griffons’ wing.

There was no stopping the resultant maul from the attacking lineout and no-one was able to prevent the try, Fez Mbatha the man in possession.

Griffons were able to push the lead to eight points with a penalty smack bang in front of the posts but with the game heading for half-time and the Cell C Sharks showing intent on attack, a penalty was kicked to touch and Mbatha broke away at the back of the maul to score his brace before the whistle went and the visitors leading 13-10 at the break.

The first points of the second half when the way of the Griffons, a technical penalty conceded just inside the Cell C Sharks’ half and a third three-pointer pushed them into a 16-10 lead, but all the promise was fulfilled as some inventiveness and pure accuracy allowed the Cell C Sharks to attack from far out with centre Murray Koster showing a clean pair of heels after an inside pass to him found space and the captain was over for his team’s third try.

The fourth and bonus point try came barely a handful of minutes later, the Griffons clearly tiring in the heat and unable to stop the rolling maul, replacement Damon Royle carrying at the back of a relentless forward effort.  Another replacement, Bradley Davids, converted and the Cell C Sharks held a six point lead with half an hour remaining and the tide having truly turned.

It was a day for the players off the bench, with Khutha Mchunu scoring the fifth try, another powerful effort from a dominant forward pack, the rolling maul proving to be an effective attacking option and Davids adding the extras from out wide for a 29-16 lead with the final quarter left to play.

The Griffons suffered a second yellow card, this time for cynical play on defence and with the result out of question, the Cell C Sharks opted for three points, Davids converting for a 16 point lead with more than 10 minutes remaining.

The Griffons blew their chances of a second try when, on penalty advantage, a dangerous clean-out to the head saw the penalty reversed and a player red carded.

It would have been a disappointing way for the visitors to end their first foray in the Premier Division, while the Cell C Sharks must feel satisfied that a tricky fixture was successfully negotiated.

The post Sharks Turn up the Heat appeared first on The Sharks.

“The biggest challenge for us it so see how quickly the group finds cohesion and connection. We’ve been working hard off the field to connect because we haven’t had the opportunity on the field and hopefully that’s an outcome that comes sooner rather than later.

“We have a few experienced guys in the backline and we will rely on them to give us direction and structure.”

Although the Griffons are one of the smaller unions, as last year’s tournament showed, with the final contested between the Pumas and Griquas, the gap is closing and the traditionally ‘bigger unions’ are being thoroughly tested on this stage.

“The Griffons have played a number of friendly matches in preparation for the Currie Cup so they will be well-prepared for this match,” Mongalo warns. “They’ve been together for four months preparing so they will be a well-oiled unit.

“We expect them to be strong defensively, with a strong set-piece and that translates into an organised team, one we cannot even think about underestimating.”

Cell C Sharks

1. Khwezi Mona
2. Fez Mbatha
3. Carlu Sadie
4. Thembelani Bholi
5. Ockie Barnard
6. Tino Mavesere
7. Siyambuku Ningiza
8. Celimpilo Gumede
9. Zee Mkhabela
10. Lionel Cronje
11. Anthony Volmink
12. Murray Koster (c)
13. Marnus Potgieter
14. Yaw Penxe
15. Nevaldo Fleurs

Replacements
16. Masikane Mazwi
17. Dian Bleuler
18. Khutha Mchunu
19. Athenkosi Khetahani
20. Marco de Wit
21. Damien Royal
22. Bradley Davids
23. Alwayno Visagie

The post A Bright Mix appeared first on The Sharks.

The Cell C Sharks Under 20s’ clash with the Lions in Friday’s SA Rugby Under 20 Cup clash at Emirates Airline Park. This is a vital one for both sides looking to maintain their winning ways.

After despatching of the Blue Bulls U20’s with a 29-7 win at Hollywoodbets Kings Park last weekend, the Cell C Sharks Under 20s added another big scalp to their tally, having beaten DHL Western Province in their opening game.

Back-to-back victories over last year’s pair of finalists is no mean feat and underlines just how well this Cell C Sharks junior side has prepared, and how that has translated into success on the field under coach JP Pietersen.

Cleanly his message of finding joy in your chosen field is resonating with his young charges who are playing an exciting, winning brand of rugby.

This week won’t get any easier against the other undefeated team in the tournament.

The Lions have defeated Western Province, the Leopards and Valke in their three games to date and with 14 log points, sit on top of the log, with the Cell C Sharks Under 20s in third place, having won both their games so far. The Bulls, who they defeated last weekend, are in second place, but have played one extra game and have a bye this weekend.

Pietersen has kept faith in the players who performed so well against the Bulls and has stuck with the belief that ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’, keeping the same matchday 23 as last week without any changes.

Friday’s match kicks off at 1pm. 

Cell C Sharks Under 20s

1. Phathu Ganyane
2. Bryce Calvert
3. Dian Heunis
4. Coetzee Le Roux
5. Luca Ribbens
6. Khumo Nkutha
7. Meno Barnard
8. Jannes Potgieter
9. Michael Koch
10. Jean Smith
11. Banie Britz
12. Ethan Hooker (C)
13. Ryan Manuel
14. Themba Sibisi
15. PJ Venter

Replacements

16. Marnus Winter
17. Dylan Willis
18. Ulrich Walker
19. Thomas Dyer
20. Alethwa Buthelezi
21. Christian Els
22. Stehan Heymans
23. Jurenzo Julius

The post Maintaining Form appeared first on The Sharks.

Saturday’s Currie Cup opening clash against the Griffons at Hollywoodbets Kings Park, looks set to open South Africa’s premier domestic rugby tournament on an important note for the Cell C Sharks.

The Cell C Sharks last won the tournament in 2018, defeating Western Province 17-12 in the final in Cape Town to win their eighth title and they will know how important it is to get off to a good start in this year’s competition when they host the Griffons in Durban.

The Northern Free State side that plays out of Welkom has had a good build-up to the season, not having any other rugby commitments and prioritising the Currie Cup. Cell C Sharks centre Murray Koster pointed out that his team will not be taking their opposition lightly, despite their limited appearances in recent Currie Cup history.

“We know the Griffons have had quite a lengthy preseason, they’ve been together for a few months and they will come out hungry, looking to upset us,” he admitted in the build-up to the game.

“They will want to prove something in this Currie Cup.”

Koster is looking forward to extended opportunities during this Currie Cup season and said that, “For me personally as a player, all you want is game time, and for me, playing is key. It’s exciting that there are 14 games in a row and an opportunity to showcase what you are made of. I’m looking forward to hopefully playing 14 games and I’m sure there are other guys who have been on the fringes of the URC, also looking forward to getting some game time.”

The Cell C Sharks come into this game not quite as settled as the Griffons, but certainly no shortage of motivation and Koster explained that, “It is a bit of a challenge for us with guys moving in and out of the various squads, and mix those with juniors and club players all coming into the Currie Cup ranks. We have a very diverse squad, but the challenge for us is to find cohesion as quickly as possible and to make sure we hit the ground running.

“The Currie Cup is the premier rugby competition in South Africa, one the Cell C Sharks haven’t won since 2018 and all we want is to do as well as we can.”

With three premier rugby tournaments all taking place around the same time – Vodacom United Rugby Championship, the Heineken Champions Cup and now the Currie Cup – player resources are vital for teams like the Cell C Sharks who have to manage their squad, players and tournament resources delicately, while still remaining competitive and true to their respective aims.

“It is a bit of a challenge, it all depends on how the games are aligned. If the Currie Cup team are playing on a Sunday, for example, that doesn’t really align with the URC team playing on a Saturday.

“But in a perfect week, if both teams are playing on a Saturday, we would balance training a bit more. Although there is a huge focus on the URC, there is still a strong focus on the Currie Cup.

“But for these first few weeks, Currie Cup and URC games aren’t aligned, so training would be separate.”

Working with coach Joey Mongalo has been a novel experience, but one he is enjoying completely.

“It’s been unbelievable, coach Joey has won the Currie Cup and as a coach and he comes with a prestigious reputation, he’s been around and knows what he’s talking about. But most importantly, he knows how to manage his players, he knows how to get the best out of them.

“If he backs you, you know it. That and honesty is all a player even wants and that’s something I can really say about coach Joey. He’s straightforward with you and when he backs you, he does it 100%.”

Being in a big squad at the Cell C Sharks has meant rubbing shoulders with Springbok stars and it’s something he admitted has really helped his development.

“It’s been very helpful for the youngsters coming through the URC, seeing how the Boks run things and how professional they are off the field as well. It’s early to meetings, it’s never shying away from hard work and for us as youngsters, it’s awesome to learn from players who have achieved so much.”

On a personal note, he has been able to learn from the best in his own position and that’s something money can’t buy.

“We have four international centres and you can look at it in one of two ways: either you can learn from them or you can take nothing from them and I have been fortunate to learn a lot. The awesome thing for me is that they are all different players so I take what I can from each and try to put it all together.”

The post Currie Cup Excitement appeared first on The Sharks.

The Cell C Sharks’ fightback against the DHL Stormers in their tense Vodacom United Rugby Championship clash on Saturday came agonisingly close to being a satisfying away win.

Cell C Sharks Director of Rugby Neil Powell felt for his players who had fought their way back into the game and came agonisingly close to winning.

“There was a lot of effort out there and for the team, I wish they’d got a better result than the one they did, they deserved that. It was an opportunity, we were in the game in the last eight minutes, but one or two mistakes from individuals prevented us from getting on top of them and score the final blow that would have won the game. Unfortunately it wasn’t meant to be.”

Reflecting on the period of the game when the Stormers were down to 13 men and the Cell C Sharks had fought back from a perilous position to one where they could have forced a result in their favour, Powell said, “Inaccuracies at the end, not accurate enough in those eight minutes.

“We got on top of them, we played the game with patience and waited patiently to get them on the back foot and then try to stay on top of them. Just inaccuracies that prevented us from getting out of our half and then the pressure was back on us.

“The guys showed a lot of confidence out there, but just individual inaccuracies. In the first half there was a lot of ill-discipline that put us on the back foot, we know that the Stormers are a team that feed off your mistakes and that’s how they scored their first three tries.

“The it becomes difficult playing catch-up rugby.”

The half-time break signalled an opportunity to right the ship and that was exactly what happened in a game of two halves.

“At half-time we told the guys not to go into the catch-up game, to keep believing in the plan we’d put out for them and just be disciplined and stick to the plan. The guys did and that showed in the second half.

“I don’t think it’s a confidence thing, the guys are starting to believe that they are good enough as a team to come to a Cape Town and put the Stormers away. The guys can only play what we’ve set out for them to play, one can say they should perhaps have kept the ball in hand, they know exactly how we want to play and they stuck to that in the second half.

“They played the way we wanted them to play in the second half a lot better.”

The URC now takes a break and the Cell C Sharks are back in action in week 16, traveling to Wales to take on the Scarletts and with three matches left in the pool stages, Powell admitted that there is plenty to fight for.

“It now becomes a win-at-all-costs scenario,” he said. “Going to Wales and getting a result against Scarletts will be tough, although we will have the services of our Boks for that game. But it does get tricky playing away and then coming back home to play the Round of 16 against Munster.

“We have a bit of a break now and plan how we’re going to approach these two games and make sure we get it right on the day.”

The post Fighting until the End appeared first on The Sharks.

The Cell C Sharks went down 29-23 to the DHL Stormers in their return leg Vodacom United Rugby Championship clash in Cape Town on Saturday afternoon as they fought hard for the win.

The Stormers are riding high in the competition, their home ground a fortress they haven’t been defeated at in 18 games and they continued their form this year over a Cell C Sharks side that threw everything into the game.

At one stage in the second half, the Stormers looked to have sewn up the result, but for a heroic fightback that saw the Cell C Sharks come agonisingly close to upsetting the applecart. It was a brave effort late in the game and a result that could easily have gone the other way.

The Cell C Sharks were forced to defend manfully in the opening 10 minute stanza but stood up to the task bravely before good pressure forced an error that got them onto the front foot, captain Curwin Bosch having no hesitation in pointing to the posts and converting the first penalty of the game.

But their majority share of possession saw the home side build up a head of momentum that saw them open their scoring, taking the ball through a few phases off an attacking lineout before scoring the first try of the game for a 5-3 lead in the 15th minute.

Just shy of the 20th minute, the Cell C Sharks went back into the lead with a penalty from right in front when the Stormers tackled a man without the ball with the visitors on the attack. But a minute later, an awful turn of events materialised when an up and under went directly into the sky, possession was retained but a long pass was intercepted and the Stormers scored their second try. This time the conversion was successful and the home side had a 12-6 lead.

The home side extended their lead to 19-6 after a scrum battle that saw them attack from inside the Cell C Sharks’ 22 and send the ball out wide for their third try with seven minutes of the first half remaining.

There was no further change to the score as the Cell C Sharks looked to play in the right areas of the field and avoid giving the home side any territorial advantage.

The third quarter saw plenty of action without results, both sides having opportunities to make inroads but both opponents up for the challenge on defence until the home side were held up just short of the tryline, but managed to send the ball wide for their fourth try and a 20 point lead with 25 minutes remaining.

Moments later, the Cell C Sharks struck gold, Yaw Penxe scoring in the corner off a deft kick ahead and the closure of a well-worked effort to reduce the lead to 26-11 with the final quarter left to play.

The Cell C Sharks weren’t finished yet, with 14 minutes remaining following a good scrum and maul, centre Rohan Janse van Rensburg took the ball at speed, avoided every defensive effort with power and brute strength to smash his way through the defenders and over the line, Bosch’s conversion cutting the lead to eight points.

The tide of momentum had completely changed into the Cell C Sharks’ favour as some stunning solo magic from scrumhalf Grant Williams as he threaded his way through the defence to score the third try. The Stormers had lost a man for a cynical tackle moments earlier, and then lost another for a kick trip that still couldn’t stop Williams and would spend the remaining seven minutes defending their three point lead with only 13 men.

A nail-biting ending to the game wasn’t enough to overcome the home side who had a late penalty to kick themselves to a six point win.

For the Cell C Sharks, the bonus point was important in keeping them in seventh place on the log.

The post Brave Fightback appeared first on The Sharks.

The historic rivalry between the Cell C Sharks and DHL Stormers continues this Saturday when the two teams meet in their return leg Vodacom United Rugby Championship clash at DHL Stadium in Cape Town.

Cell C Sharks Director of Rugby Neil Powell has made a number of changes to last week’s side that played against Ulster.

The front row is completely rejigged, with Dian Bleuler coming in for Ntuthuko Mchunu and Fez Mbatha and Hanro Jacobs taking over from Dan Jooste and Carlü Sadie respectively.

In the second row, Reniel Hugo makes way for Emile van Heerden, with Henco Venter replacing Dylan Richardson and Sikhumbuzo Notshe starting at eighthman for Phepsi Buthelezi.

The captaincy reins have been handed to Curwin Bosch this week as the Cell C Sharks flyhalf continues his growth and adds to his contribution to the team.

Powell has made just two changes in the backline, welcoming back Aphelele Fassi who starts on the wing in place of Thaakir Abrahams after returning from injury, while Marnus Potgieter has been moved to outside centre, where he will partner Rohan Janse van Rensburg.

With a five point margin separating the Stormers from third-placed Ulster, the pressure is on them to maintain their position on the log, while the Cell C Sharks are themselves well-aware of teams below them putting on a chase for a top eight finish.

The seventh-placed Cell C Sharks also have a five point buffer [over Connacht] and a win would propel them higher up the log

Saturday’s clash kicks off at 2.30pm.

Cell C Sharks

1. Dian Bleuler
2. Fez Mbatha
3. Hanro Jacobs
4. Emile van Heerden
5. Gerbrandt Grobler
6. Henco Venter
7. Vincent Tshituka
8. Sikhumbuzo Notshe
9. Grant Williams
10. Curwin Bosch (c)
11. Aphelele Fassi
12. Rohan Janse van Rensburg
13. Marnus Potgieter
14. Werner Kok
15. Boeta Chamberlain

Replacements

16. Kerron van Vuuren
17. Ntuthuko Mchunu
18. Carlü Sadie
19. Jeandre Labuschagne
20. James Venter
21. Phepsi Buthelezi
22. Cameron Wright
23. Yaw Penxe

The post Coastal Derby appeared first on The Sharks.

The Cell C Sharks Under 20s are back after a week’s break in the SA Rugby Under 20 Cup when they host their Vodacom Bulls’ counterparts in Durban on Friday at 1pm.

After defeating perennial junior achievers DHL Western Province 31-19 in round one, the Cell C  Sharks Under 20s enjoyed a bye last week and return to action in round three, playing their first home game of the competition at Hollywoodbets Kings Park.

The Bulls started their campaign on a successful – if quiet – note, a 31-26 victory over the Leopards and followed that up with a convincing 45-26 win over Western Province and will offer stern opposition.

But this Cell C Sharks Under 20 team have found motivation in coach JP Pietersen’s rugby philosophy, and have been inspired by their coach’s attitude towards the game. The motivation to achieve is driving this team.

“As a squad, they all agree that they want to win the competition and it’s great that they take ownership of that aim and what they want to achieve,” Pietersen explains.

“They can take confidence into this Under 20 tournament from being in the final of the Under 19 competition last year.”

Friday’s match kicks off at 1pm on the mainfield at Hollywoodbets Kings Park.

Cell C Sharks Under 20’s

1. Phathu Ganyane
2. Bryce Calvert
3. Dian Heunis
4. Coetzee Le Roux
5. Luca Ribbens
6. Mandisi Nkutha
7. Meno Barnard
8. Jannes Potgieter
9. Michael Koch
10. Jean Smith
11. Banie Britz
12. Ethan Hooker (c)
13. Ryan Manuel
14. Themba Sibisi
15. PJ Venter

Replacements

16. Marnus Winter
17. Dylan Willis
18. Ulrich Walker
19. Thomas Dyer
20. Alethwa Buthelezi
21. Christian Els
22. Stehan Heymans
23. Jurenzo Julius

The post Huge Test for U/20’s appeared first on The Sharks.

Cell C Sharks scrumhalf Grant Williams journey to professional rugby has been a longer road than others, but he has made a name for himself at his franchise, and is making great strides towards becoming a permanent fixture in the Springbok set-up as well.

His solo effort from 40m out opened the scoring against Ulster last weekend and his blistering pace was the difference between his attack and the flailing defence. We’ve come to expect some sniping runs from him and he has scored many an exciting try.

But it wasn’t always so.

“I only developed a bit of speed after school and I’ve been working on it ever since,” he explains. “I’ve never been like a fully professional athlete or anything like that, but I’d spend my holidays in Cape Town doing speed training with a professional coach, including things like hill training.”

His route to this point has been different to many of his fellow rugby players, “I had to play club rugby to get to Springbok level, so patience has been with me from the start. I didn’t get a contract straight out of school, and that’s when a lot of guys give up. Developing through the club rugby system is different and it takes more time, so I’ve had to learn patience. But it’s easier now, I know what it takes and sometimes you just have to wait and your time will come.

“But in saying all of that, I don’t believe I have a point to prove. At the moment I’m more focused into putting everything into the Cell C Sharks right now, on delivering a complete performance for my team. That’s what we need at the moment.”

His partnership with flyhalf Curwin Bosch is an important one and the two seem to complement each other.

“That started in 2018 when I made my Super Rugby debut. Curwin has been there ever since and I’m really happy for him, he’s on form and playing well and hopefully I can contribute to him playing well this whole season.”

Then there is the scrumhalf rivalry with Jaden Hendrikse, but that too is a positive relationship.

‘’Jaden’s a very close friend of mine and that rivalry brings out the best in both of us. Having to compete every week makes for good, healthy competition and we push each other all the time.”

Reflecting on the last outing against the DHL Stormers at Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Williams pushes aside any notion of revenge, instead he admits that: “The focus is on us, first of all to be better than last week. We know what went wrong in the last Stormers match, we just need to fix those things. We’ve been together as a group for a while and we need to work together, for each other and if we do that, things will go well.”

The Sharks have welcomed back a number of players since that last meeting, “And hopefully we’ll be a much strong side and that we can deliver.

“I’m really excited to go down to Cape Town, to see my family and play in front of them, and to express myself.

“We all know that they play a good brand of exciting rugby, they’re an all-round side and we need to find ways to get the ball in our court and then play well from there. They like to throw the ball around and that’s what we’re expecting from them.”

The post The Hard Road appeared first on The Sharks.

Following the Cell C Sharks Vodacom United Rugby Championship clash against Ulster at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Saturday, Director of Rugby Neil Powell spoke of mixed emotions over the result.

“It was a disappointing outcome,” he remarked afterwards, following the outcome.

“We were really hoping to get at least four points from this game, but at times we let ourselves down with individual inaccuracies. We’d score points, but on the kick receipt, we couldn’t remove the pressure which put us further under pressure.

“That first 15 minutes was the way we wanted to play Ulster and then unfortunately after that water break it felt like we lost a bit of momentum. We gave them too many opportunities to maul inside our 22 and that was due to us not being clinical enough in the way we wanted to exit.”

Powell highlighted absorbing maul pressure as a big factor, explaining that, “When a team scores three maul tries, you feel exposed, and that’s something we need to get right. It’s no use saying every week that we’ll work on it, because the maul challenge is one that will come every weekend and it’s something we need to get right every single game.”

While there were areas of concern, Powell could not fault the effort from his team in a game where they were never really out of.

“The backs tried hard, the forwards too, it never felt like we were out of the game, but we would score and then they would put us under pressure at the kick-off because of our own mistakes and inaccuracies.”

While there were two log points – a losing bonus point and a four try bonus – and some comfort to take out of the game, he admitted that it didn’t quite match their aims.

“We would have preferred four points, we had opportunities to get more points out off this game. So two points is some comfort, it keeps us in the top eight. But still, it was a disappointing result.”

With four pool games remaining, the Cell C Sharks currently lie in seventh position, five points clear of Connacht in eighth place. A trip to Cape Town to take on the high-riding DHL Stormers this Saturday beckons and it doesn’t get any easier for Powell’s men.

“The Stormers are a really good team and there’s a reason why they’re second on the log,” he explained. “They play a good brand of rugby and a holistic style, so you have to be accurate in all areas of the game if you don’t want to get punished.

“We’ll have to make sure the plan we have for them is a really good one because they’re a well-coached team, they have threats everywhere and we have to make sure we are good in all areas of the game.

“We can’t only be good in one area, because they will punish any weaknesses.”

The post Post-Match Reflections appeared first on The Sharks.

There was a strong start and a brave fightback late in the game but this unfortunately could not secure victory as Ulster managed a 31-24 Vodacom United Rugby Championship win over the Cell C Sharks at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Saturday afternoon.

It was a perfect start for the Cell C Sharks, Grant Williams showing his deadly pace to score in the corner, although the touchline conversion was off-target. It took the visitors until the end of the first quarter to finally score, a penalty to cut the lead.

Ulster struck again five minutes later, a strong rolling maul to score their first try of the game, converted for a 10-5 lead.

On the half hour, Chamberlain showed an educated boot to send a cross-kick to Thaakir Abrahams who ran onto the ball perfectly to run in his team’s second try.

Bosch converted before the teams took a break for water.

Another rolling maul from Ulster saw them retake the lead with a little over five minutes of the half remaining and that was how the teams went into the changerooms.

At 17-12 down at the break, the game was still wide open.

But Ulster struck first in the second half, their centre diving onto the ball which was taken back behind the tryline to score the converted try that took them into a 12 point lead.

Ntuthuko Mchunu closed off a strong effort from his fellow forwards to score his team’s third try after a penalty was kicked to touch and from the ensuing attacking lineout, the big prop was just too strong from close-quarters. Bosch converted to cut the lead back to five points with half an hour remaining.

The teams took a water break to account for the heat before Ulster struck again, a well-crafted attack took possession deep into the 22 before powering over for a 31-19 lead.

An absolutely beautiful passage of play ensued with a lineout steal, the ball went to Werner Kok who sped away, handed off the would-be tackler before making more metres, sent the ball to Boeta Chamberlain who showed a clean pair of heels to outstrip the defence and cut the lead to 31-24.

Another water break ensued before the final frantic minutes of the game when the Cell C Sharks went in search of the converted try that would level scores.

Forced to play from every position on the field in their quest, sadly having to attack from their 22 was simply a road too far to negotiate.

The post Ulster at Home appeared first on The Sharks.

The Cell C Sharks team to meet Ulster in their round six Vodacom United Rugby Championship match at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Saturday shows minimal changes to the side that defeated the Emirates Lions last weekend.

The team is building a nice head of steam as the tournament pool stages wind down and the momentum they have taken out of their 29-7, bonus point victory over the Lions means they go into this game with confidence.
Keeping team selection intact as much as possible, Cell C Sharks Director of Rugby Neil Powell has made just three changes to last week’s side.

There are two new starters in the pack and one in the backline, with Dylan Richardson and Vincent Tshituka, the flanks who played a starring role off the bench last week, getting the nod in the starting line-up, replacing James Venter and Henco Venter.

There is further good news on the return-from-injury status where Boeta Chamberlain has recovered from the injury he sustained against Union Bordeaux Bègles in their Heineken Champions Cup clash in mid-January.
Chamberlain, his team’s top-scorer (with 66 points) replaces the injured Aphelele Fassi at fullback.

Cell C Sharks

1. Ntuthuko Mchunu
2. Dan Jooste
3. Carlü Sadie
4. Reniel Hugo
5. Gerbrandt Grobler
6. Dylan Richardson
7. Vincent Tshituka
8. Phepsi Buthelezi (c)
9. Grant Williams
10. Curwin Bosch
11. Thaakir Abrahams
12. Rohan Janse van Rensburg
13. Francois Venter
14. Werner Kok
15. Boeta Chamberlain

Replacements

16. Fez Mbatha
17. Dian Bleuler
18. Hanro Jacobs
19. Emile van Heerden
20. Sikhumbuzo Notshe
21. Cameron Wright
22. Lionel Cronje
23. Yaw Penxe

The post Ulster at Home appeared first on The Sharks.

The Cell C Sharks come off an important win over the weekend, but know that even at home, they face a huge challenge when they host Ulster at Hollywoodbets Kings Park in a rescheduled round 6 Vodacom United Rugby Championship clash on Saturday.

For the Cell C Sharks, building on the win against the Emirates Lions last weekend and the development of a team missing its Springboks is vital to their progress, explains centre Rohan Janse van Rensburg.

Reflecting on the importance of that big victory to the team’s state of mind, he explains that, “It’s massive, really, really big. Confidence is everything with regards to this squad. We are missing a number of players, but that’s no excuse whatsoever because we have quality players who want to perform and achieve higher honours and we have to keep each other accountable to those standards.

“Regardless of who is in the team or who is missing, the squad we have is good enough to perform and put quality performances together.

“There’s a big onus on taking responsibility, especially after the Stormers game. We reflected on that and what this team stands for, and everyone is putting their best foot forward. It’s exciting for the Sharks brand, for what we want to achieve.”

Ulster return to Durban after the round 6 clash, scheduled to be played in late October but called off after a gastro outbreak in their camp. What are his expectations of a team missing Irish internationals?

“Regardless of whether they lose a few players or not – and they definitely will lose some – it’s Ulster and we know they will always put out a strong team.

“So regardless of whether they send a first or second string team, it’s important for us to be up for it on Saturday. We were against the Lions even if there are a lot of things we need to fix this week, but we know we have to pitch up on Saturday against Ulster. That’s the most important thing for us.”

Having previously spent a big chunk of his career playing for Sale Sharks in the UK, his knowledge of and experience playing the northern hemisphere sides is a big boost for the Cell C Sharks.

“It was a great experience playing there for nearly five years, but adapting to the conditions there was massive for me, whether it was cold, wet or even playing in snow. That’s all really helped me here, especially in terms of my game management and being able to see when and where we need to play at different times in games. And then helping the boys in the midst of a tough match.

“It was a good opportunity to learn, where I could develop my game and look deeper into what I can work on; it really helped me.”

He reflects on the importance riding on the outcome of this match; playing a team riding high on the log, his own team with a game in hand to play catch-up, and overall log positions as the tournament heads for the knock-out stages.

“It’s a great opportunity for us because they’re coming here to Hollywoodbets Kings Park, to our home turf and it’s important that we have a good record at home. Playing a quality side like Ulster, it’s so important that we’re mentally prepared. If this is a big game for them , it’s massive for us, especially with the log positions and where we can potentially go in the next few games.

“That’s a great motivator behind this game and the boys know exactly what is needed to perform.”

The post What we Stand For appeared first on The Sharks.

The Cell C Sharks withstood everything the Emirates Lions threw at them in the first half of their Vodacom United Rugby Championship clash on Saturday, and then used the energy of the bench to blow the home team away.

Cell C Sharks Director of Rugby Neil Powell, reflecting on his team’s 29-7 bonus point victory, paid tribute to the direction his play-maker gave the team, and then the outstanding effort off the bench later in the game when the result was still in the balance.

“At times, good character was shown, but it was not as clinical a performance as we would have liked, hopwever the rain made the ball greasy and difficult to handle and we couldn’t hit maximum momentum.

“We managed the game a lot better in the second half, especially Curwin [Bosch]. Those long kicks to the corner and pinning them in their 22 were very effective.

“It took us a while to adjust to the rain and the slippery conditions, but a lot better performance in the second half.”

A comprehensive victory notwithstanding, Powell did feel that the game could have been managed better, adding that, “The issues were not good decisions at times; for example we would take the more difficult lineout option rather than the easy one and then lose it. Decision-making is something we will address and hopefully we’ll get that right going forward.”

Curwin Bosch’s contribution was immense, not only in his try and kicking for posts, but just the way he executed his role as the midfield general.

“He’s done well for us this season and he showed especially in that second half how well he managed the game with the boot, he puts good performances together and it’s great if you can rely on your 10 to manage the game as he did.” 

Of the bench, Powell was full of praise. “There was a risk going into the game with a  6-2 split on the bench, but it definitely paid off for us.  Our aim was for the players coming off the bench to lift the energy and they did just that. We selected that specific bench because we needed guys who would come onto the field and finish the game for us in the last 20-30 minutes.

“Vincent Tshituka and Dylan Richardson were back from injury, having Sikhumbuzo Notshe there too was also great. And then a young front row who certainly contributed. Those guys came onto the field and really made a difference.”

The bonus point win was vital at this stage and sets the team up nicely for the final run of games heading into the knock-out stages. But Powell admitted that it is important to keep the momentum going.

“We’re very happy with the result and five points, we’ve missed a few of those, especially in Durban, so happy that we managed to do it in this game. It is important that we take this momentum forward and although the outcome was good, there was a lot we didn’t do well, decision-making in particular and at times it looked like we lacked a bit of effort.

“We would like to show that fight and character every game, hopefully we can enjoy some continuity going forward.

“We will look to make a step up against Ulster and hopefully we can get a positive result out of that game.”

The post Energy off the Bench appeared first on The Sharks.

The Cell C Sharks were forced to fight hard, but delivered a character-filled Vodacom United Rugby Championship performance against the Emirates Lions to run out 29-7 bonus point victors.

The win maintained the Cell C Sharks’ 100% record against the Lions in all URC clashes and was a particularly satisfying result. They were up against a driven opposition in the first half, but were simply too good, too strong and too committed in the second half as they blew their hosts away in a completely dominant second 40.

The influence of the wet weather in the early stages of the game was telling, both sides unable to build momentum, although it was the home team that dominated possession but by the 22nd minute, had missed three penalties and had been held up over the tryline, their efforts thwarted by stern defence.

At the first sniff of quality ball, a strong build-up saw Curwin Bosch eye a gap, take advantage of space and round the defence to score under the posts from 30m out, and then convert for a 7-0 lead.

Former Cell C Sharks and Lions captain Marius Louw responded with his team’s first score of the game, also scoring under the posts and finally making good on his team’s surfeit of possession.

To their credit, the Cell C Sharks had fought an uphill battle and would have been the less despondent of the two sides going into a half-time break with the spoils evenly shared, the Lions would have rued missed opportunities and an inability to turn pressure into points.

The Cell C Sharks’ second try came after a long period of sustained defence of their 22, with some magic from Curwin Bosch whose 80m touch-finder delivered a 50-22 lineout for his team. It would prove to be a major turning point in the game and signalled a complete turnabout of fortunes, one the Lions would never recover from.

Dan Jooste broke off the back of a strong drive, was held up on the line before the ball was quickly recycled and sent wide for Thaakir Abrahams who dived under the cover defence to score in the corner. Bosch finished off the hard work with an outstanding touchline conversion.

With the shift in momentum towards the Cell C Sharks, the Lions started to have their discipline tested and after conceding a number of penalties, found themselves 10 points down, trailing 17-7 as the game approached the final quarter, Bosch striking the penalty true from in front.

The Lions survived a potential yellow card referral to the TMO, but the TMO was called for a second ruling in a matter of minutes after Fez Mbatha had been driven over from the ensuing penalty kicked to touch, awarding the try for a 22-7 lead with just over 10 minutes remaining.

Grant Williams scored the bonus point try, but once again it was that Bosch magic, a perfectly-executed grubber through the defence for his scrumhalf to run on to and score before it rolled over the dead-ball line, Bosch adding the extras.

At 29-7, there was only ever going to be one winner and try as they may, the Lions threw everything into a consolation score, but found any continuity on attack vaguely elusive.

The Cell C Sharks can look back at this character-filled performance with a strong measure of satisfaction, the victory crucial at this point in the competition.

The post Powerful Second Half appeared first on The Sharks.

Saturday’s return leg clash between the Cell C Sharks and Emirates Lions at Emirates Airline Park presents something of a watershed for the two teams chasing their individual goals and aims in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship.

The Cell C Sharks currently occupy eighth position on the log and well within a top eight finish, but with five rounds remaining, know they can ill-afford any slip-ups enroute to the knock-outs.

The Lions, in 13^th place on the 16-team log will be desperate for a win, at home, and won’t be easy pickings.

Cell C Sharks Director of Rugby Neil Powell has welcomed a number of players back into the side for this game and believes they will add huge value to the team.

“It’s great to have these quality players back,” he admitted. “Dylan has had a long injury lay-off, Werner struggled with a knee injury and was off for three to four weeks, great to see those guys all back and ready for this Lions game.  Grant Williams is also back and that’s a massive  positive for us. I’m happy with the squad we managed to select, as well as the preparation.

“For us it’s about pitching up and making sure we are ready and focused.”

With the tournament heading inexorably towards the knock-out stages, a top 8 finish is crucial. There is pressure on every side to either fight to make it, or to maintain their positions (or even climb a little higher.

“We all know that the next three games will be important for us, but the focus has to be on us and our performances and the only thing we can control is what we want to achieve this weekend.  So all our focus and energy is on our game and how we want to play. We will make sure that from a mental and physical aspect, we pitch up for this game.

“We’ve done our analysis on the Lions and the threats they will bring and we’ve planned and selected the team accordingly.”

Many teams playing on the highveld have come a cropper, not used to playing at altitude and often running out of steam later in the game, particularly if they’ve been sucked into playing a high energy game.

 
“It’s going to be important for us to control the tempo of the game, so it’s not always about speeding up the game but also sometimes slowing it down and controlling it, so it’s not so much about chasing the intensity and trying to speed up the game.  Management of the game is going to be crucial and hopefully we get that right.”

Generally, managing the game is important, but crucial to success is starting well so that the team doesn’t find itself chasing the scoreboard

“Starting well gives you the foundation for the rest of the game and it’s crucial for us to understand that we can’t wake up 20 minutes into the match and you’re 21-nil down. So it’s about pitching up from the very first whistle and that’s something we’ve addressed.

“If we can start well like we did against them at Hollywoodbets Kings Park in the first round, it definitely helps to provide that foundation to build on for the rest of the game.”

The post Preview appeared first on The Sharks.

The Cell C Sharks team named to take on the Emirates Lions in Johannesburg in this weekend’s return leg Vodacom United Rugby Championship has been bolstered by the return of a number of players.

Director of Rugby Neil Powell has selected a six-two split on the bench, an acknowledgement of just how physical he expects this game to be and the confrontation he anticipates from the Lions, and to this end welcomes the return of Vincent Tshituka and Dylan Richardson from injury, the pair playing off the bench and no doubt will bring impetus and energy to the team when they’re given the opportunity to get stuck in.

In changes to the side that played the DHL Stormers in the last game, Dan Jooste replaces Kerron van Vuuren at hooker and Hyron Andrews makes way for Reniel Hugo at lock, in the only changes to the pack.

In the backline, Grant Williams returns to action, with Cameron Wright playing off the bench while Francois Venter takes over from Ben Tapuai who is the other backline player amongst the replacements.

The final change sees Werner Kok back from injury, replacing Marnus Potgieter on the wing.

The Cell C Sharks will feed off the confidence gained out of their first round derby match at Hollywoodbets Kings Park in December last year, a 37-10, five try to one bonus point victory, but will also understand the need – as well as accept the challenge – to deliver a comprehensive performance that ticks all the boxes.

Saturday’s clash at Emirates Airline Park kicks off at 3pm.

Cell C Sharks

1. Ntuthuko Mchunu
2. Dan Jooste
3. Carlü Sadie
4. Reniel Hugo
5. Gerbrandt Grobler
6. James Venter
7. Henco Venter
8. Phepsi Buthelezi (c)
9. Grant Williams
10. Curwin Bosch
11. Thaakir Abrahams
12. Rohan Janse van Rensburg
13. Francois Venter
14. Werner Kok
15. Aphelele Fassi

Replacements

16. Fez Mbatha
17. Dian Bleuler
18. Hanro Jacobs
19. Vincent Tshituka
20. Dylan Richardson
21. Sikhumbuzo Notshe
22. Cameron Wright
23. Ben Tapuai

The post Executing the Plan appeared first on The Sharks.

The Cell C Sharks are back in Vodacom United Rugby Championship action after a brief respite when they travel to Emirates Airline Park to take on the Emirates Lions on Saturday afternoon.

The first round meeting, at Hollywoodbets Kings Park just before Christmas, delivered a resounding 37-10 victory for the Durban side and they would love nothing better than to follow that up with another commanding performance.

Someone who is playing with confidence at the moment is flyhalf Curwin Bosch and he will be looking to deliver a match-winning performance this weekend.

“Confidence is probably the biggest factor why I’m playing well, I’m enjoying training, I have a mentality of learning again, of being a student of the game,” he explains. “Credit must go to the team, we’ve been playing good rugby – bar the Stormers game – and credit must go to the guys around me. That’s one of the reasons why I’m performing the way I am.”

Currently lying in the top 8, the Cell C Sharks know how important a result is this weekend to their challenge, and Bosch admits that the opening minutes of the game are going to prove crucial in the outcome.

“Starting well is really important for us. We always talk about starting fast and starting well and this week is no different. We have an approach this week that’s not different to any other game where we’re just sticking to our processes. We’re really looking forward to it, we just want to get out onto the park on Saturday and perform well.

“Training has gone really well this week, the guys are keen to rectify things this weekend. We have applied all the learnings from that Stormers game, a performance that wasn’t good enough for our standards. We had an in-depth review of what went wrong and on the day, nothing really went our way and we made a lot of mistakes that we wouldn’t usually make.

“This weekend is about going out there and executing our game plan to the best of our ability.”

Despite the last result, he points out that the team is in the right frame of mind and go into this game with a positive mindset.

“We’ve had a bit of a break since the last game, the guys went away and we tried to switch off. We came back refreshed and energised and we are ready to hit the ground running.

“We know what we’re capable of and it’s just a matter of putting it all together. Saturday is another opportunity to deliver in a Sharks jersey.”

Reflecting on the Lions, he warns that only the best from his team will do against a side desperate to get a good result.

“We know what to expect from the Lions, they’re a team that is trying to play an expansive brand of rugby and they have quality players in their side, including a couple of our old boys who will be playing against us.”

As in all South African derbies, as far as the physicality goes, he expects nothing different this week.

“It’s going to be a big physical challenge for us, they are a very good set-piece based team, their scrum is strong and we’ve done our prep on them.

“But our focus this week is to try and go out there and execute our plan, if we can do that, play with discipline, we’ll be ok.”

The post Executing the Plan appeared first on The Sharks.