Sharks extend contracts of Bok stars, rising talent

The Sharks may be losing two key World Cup winners to overseas teams, but they have managed to hang on to some of their best talent ahead of what could be a watershed URC season in 2023/24.

Influential captain and flanker Siya Kolisi will join Racing 92 after this year’s World Cup, having joined the Sharks from the Stormers in 2021, while prop Thomas du Toit is on his way to Bath in England, after a 10-year spell in Durban.

Bok players

But, the good news for the fans is Eben Etzebeth will return to play for the Sharks when he is again fit and following the World Cup, while several other players have also pledged their future to the union.

In the last few days, Springbok players Bongi Mbonambi, Ox Nche, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Curwin Bosch and Nthuthuko Mchunu all re-signed with the Sharks.

Mbonambi will remain with the Sharks until 2026, Nche will play on in Durban until 2025, while Notshe will play on for one more season, until the end of the 2024 URC/European campaign.

Bosch, who has had his battles in Durban and at one stage was rumoured to be looking to move overseas, has also opted to stay in Durban and will wear the black and white jersey for the next two seasons, until 2026.

Mchunu, who has played one Bok Test and is considered a future star, has been tied down until 2025.
Also, rising young players Phepsi Buthulezi and Marnus Potgieter have also extended their contracts with the Durban-based team.

The Sharks also recently announced that exciting Cheetahs pivot Siya Masuku will be joining them from next season.

There is also the likelihood that former coach John Plumtree could return in the role later this year, with Neil Powell returning to his director of rugby role.

The coaching position became vacant midway through the current URC season when Sean Everitt was fired.

The Sharks finished eighth in the URC points table and will play in the quarter-finals against table-toppers Leinster in Dublin on Saturday.

In the three other URC last-eight matches this weekend, Glasgow Warriors welcome Munster, Ulster entertain Connacht, while in Cape Town, the Stormers host the Bulls in a repeat of last year’s final.