Young Sharks have been locked and reloaded
LAST September, the Sharks concluded a “Locked and Reloaded” campaign which saw the core of their senior players commit to the Sharks until at least the next Rugby World Cup in 2023, and now they have a sequel under way which sees a younger contingent sign up for the Shark Tank.
It is good news, indeed, for Sharks supporters who can rest easy that future Springboks such as Dylan Richardson and Jaden Hendrikse will be Sharks until the end of the 2024 season, having recently re-committed to the Sharks.
The Sharks have been unveiling a resigning every few days for a little while now and other youngsters to put pen to paper are No 8 Phepsi Buthelezi, flank Celimpilo Gumede, prop Ntuthuko Mchunu and hooker Fez Mbatha.
All of them went to school in KwaZulu-Natal and their progression through the Sharks ‘age group teams and now into the senior ranks confirms the success of the youth policy adopted some years ago.
Richardson went to Kearsney College; Hendrikse to Glenwood; Buthelezi and Gumede were at DHS; and Mbatha and Mchunu are Maritzburg College Old Boys.
Mchunu captained College from the No 8 position but Sharks coach Sean Everitt feels he has the potential to become the new “Beast”. As was the case with Tendai Mtawarira, Everitt has moved Mchunu from No 8 to loosehead prop, where he has had a series of impressive cameos for the Sharks, including a barnstorming 50m solo try in the Preparation Series match against the Lions.
The “Reloaded” campaign of late last year helped halt the player drain to the northern hemisphere, typically the curse of South African coaches attempting to build and maintain a winning team.
Some 29 Sharks re-signed, which has given Everitt the luxury of a strong core of players with which to forge a champion team over the next few years.
At that time, a number of younger players could not re-sign because they were still serving out their junior contracts but that has obviously now changed, with this young group now secured as Sharks of the future.
A senior Shark who has also just extended his contract is No 8 Henco Venter, the 29-year-old former Cheetahs captain.
Richardson has been a revelation for the Sharks since rugby resumed after last year’s lockdown, excelling at both openside flank and hooker. His versatility made him a target for other unions, so his decision to remain in Durban will be a pleasing one for Sharks supporters.
Richardson has missed the Sharks’ four Rainbow Cup matches because of an ankle injury but the good news is that he has recovered and is expected to be in the team announced later today to play the Lions in Johannesburg on Saturday.