Volmink signs with the Sharks

ANTHONY Volmink, the Griquas wing/fullback who has been on loan to the Cheetahs in the Pro 14, is the latest signing for the Sharks and will join the Durban team later this year when his loan period expires.

Originally from Bredasdorp in the Western Cape, the much-traveled Volmink has played for Boland, the Lions, Southern Kings, Griquas and the Cheetahs.

He made his Super Rugby debut in June 2012 for the Lions against the Sharks in Jo’burg and a year later broke the South African tries-per-game record when he scored nine tries in the Golden Lions’161–3 victory over the unfortunate Limpopo Blue Bulls in the Vodacom Cup.

The Sharks are looking to the 30-year-old to bolster their depth on the wing because of the expectation that they will lose their Springbok wings – Sbu Nkosi and Makazole Mapimpi – to Rugby Championship duty in November/December.

The Sharks will also be losing their two veteran former Boks – Lwazi Mvovo and JP Pietersen – to retirement at the end of this season.

Volmink was outstanding at fullback for Griquas in last year’s Currie Cup and this is a position where the Sharks are thin on the ground after Aphelele Fassi.

The news on Volmink comes during the Sharks’ recently launched “Locked and Reloaded” campaign which has the union each day announcing the re-signing of a player.

According to Sharks CEO Ed Coetzee, 27 players have committed to the Sharks for the next two to three seasons,

The players so far uncovered in the campaign include captain Lukhanyo Am, Mapimpi, Madosh Tambwe, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Marius Louw, John-Hubert Meyer and Jeremy Ward.