Sharks (Super rugby franchise)

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Sharks
Full name	Sharks
Founded	1997
Union	South African Rugby Union
Location	Durban, South Africa
Region	Durban KwaZulu-Natal Province
Ground(s)	Kings Park Stadium
Capacity	55,000[1]
Coach	Dick Muir
Captain	Johann Muller
League	Super 14
2007	2nd
Home colours		Away colours
Official website
www.sharksrugby.co.za

The Sharks are a South African rugby union team competing in the Super 14 competition (Super 10 from 1993-1995 and Super 12 from 1996-2005). They are based in Durban and centred around the Natal Sharks union, also based in Durban and drawing players from all of KwaZulu-Natal Province.

In 1993-1995 South Africa was represented in the Super 10 by their three top unions (top three teams from the previous years Currie Cup). Natal (as they were called then) qualified in 1993 and 1994. Natal were runners-up in 1994 after having lost to Queensland 21-10 in the final. In 1996 and 1997 South Africa was represented in the Super 12 by their four top unions rather than franchises, and Natal qualified and competed both years. They have never won the Super 12 competition, but have reached the final three times, as Natal in 1996 and as the Sharks in 2001 and 2007.

Through 2005, they drew players from the two unions based in Eastern Cape Province, the Mighty Elephants (Port Elizabeth) and the Bulldogs (East London), but those unions became the core of the new Southern Spears franchise that was formed in 2006 and was originally intended to enter the Super 14 in 2007 but was later denied admission. The current team captain is Springbok lock Johann Muller. The side contains many other Springbok players including JP Pietersen, BJ Botha, François Steyn, AJ Venter, Johan Ackerman, Adrian Jacobs, Ruan Pienaar and the brothers Bismarck and Jannie du Plessis, plus France international Frédéric Michalak.

[edit] History

The Cats (now the Lions) playing the Sharks.

Natal competed in the inaugural Super 10 during the 1993 season. They were in Pool A along with Auckland, Western Samoa, Queensland and Otago. They finished second in the pool on 12 points, behind Auckland on 16. The next season they played in Pool b with New South Wales, Western Samoa, Auckland and Waikato, and finished at the top of the pool to face Pool A winners Queensland in the final in Durban. Natal lost the game 21 to 10. Natal did not play in the 1995 series.

The Natal Sharks played in the first Super 12 season, in 1996. After 11 games the Sharks finished fourth in the final standings, enough to get them through to the finals. They defeated Queensland at Ballymore 43 to 25 to get into the first Super 12 championship game. They finished inaugural runners-up, losing to Auckland 45 to 21 in Auckland. The following season Natal finished fourth once again, but lost their semi-final against Auckland.

In 1998 the Coastal Sharks (as the team was now styled) won 7 of their 11 games, and finished in their best position yet, third place. They were however defeated by the Crusaders in the semi finals. The following season the Sharks missed the finals, finishing 7th. In 2000 the Sharks finished last in the final standings. However the next season they came second - at the time their best ever finish - and after defeating the Cats, went to Canberra for the final, which they lost against the Brumbies.

In 2002 the Sharks missed the finals after finishing 10th on the season table. The following season they came 11th. 2004 was a better season for the team, coming in at 7th after the regular season. However in 2005 saw them slump to 12th.

In 2006 the Super 12 expanded and became the Super 14. In the first Super 14 season the Sharks narrowly missed the finals, missing out on a 4th place finish on points difference. In 2007 they were top of the table and became the first South African side to host a Super 12 or 14 final. The Sharks fought hard in the final but lost to the Bulls after a controversial try by Bryan Habana.

[edit] The Sharks Brand

After being informally called the Banana Boys for a substantial amount of time it was decided in 1995 that the whole offering would go ahead with new branding - The Sharks. The Sharks mascot was launched in 1995 but the rebranding went into full swing in 1996. To achieve this a substantial budget was allocated to refine this vision that would include the match, facilities, the pre and post match activities and the team.

There was initially significant resistance from many quarters. This resistance was ascribed to the traditional attitudes of the rugby loving stake holders. However the strategy was successful and the success of the marketing has been widely acknowledged.

Crowd attendances, merchandising, season and suite holder season ticket sales have all been very successful. The brand is now internationally recognised and the branding strategy is reaping dividends for all its stakeholders.^[2]

[edit] Stadium

Kings Park Stadium in Durban is the home ground of the Sharks. It is also known for sponsorship reasons as ABSA Stadium. It currently has a capacity of 55,000. As well as the Sharks team, it is also used during the Currie Cup for the Natal Sharks, as well as soccer games. The grounds were originally built in 1891, but have been worked on numerous times. A major upgrade occurred for the 1995 Rugby World Cup.^[1]

[edit] Franchise area

The Sharks franchise covers the province of KwaZulu-Natal. The two main cities from which most of its players are drawn are Durban and Pietermaritzburg.

[edit] Super Rugby positions

[edit] Super 12 placings

[edit] Super 14 placings

[edit] Current squad

The following is a list of Sharks players for the 2008 season. All players are South Africans unless otherwise indicated.^[3]

Epi Taione

  Jp Pietersen

[edit] In for 2008

• Jannie du Plessis (from Vodacom Cheetahs)
• Charl McLeod (from Valke)
• Frédéric Michalak (from Toulouse)
• Epi Taione (from Sanyo Wild Knights)
• Stefan Terblanche (from Ospreys)

[edit] Out for 2008

• Gcobani Bobo (to Stormers)
• Warren Britz
• Butch James (to Bath)
• Cedric Mkhize
• Percy Montgomery (to Perpignan)
• Dusty Noble (to Lions)
• Sandile Nxumalo
• Grant Rees
• Dewald Senekal (to Lions)
• Bobby Skinstad (retired)
• John Smit (to Clermont)

[edit] Coaches

Between 1996 and 1999 the Sharks were coached by former Springbok coach Ian McIntosh, with Hugh Reece-Edwards as his assistant.^[6] In 2000 Reece-Edwards took over as coach with Jake White and Alister Coetzee as assistants. All three were replaced the following year however as Rudolf Straeuli was appointed coach, with Kobus van der Merwe as his assistant. In 2002 Clinton Isaacs replaced van der Merwe as Straeuli's assistant. The partnership did not last however, as both were replaced before the season had finished. Kevin Putt was appointed as Straeuli's replacement, and Theo van Rensburg as assistant. Isaacs returned as Putt's assistant in 2003, and the two continued to coach the team until after the 2005 season.^[6] Dick Muir replaced Putt for 2006 and has been head coach since, with John Plumtree as his assistant. Plumtree took over the head coaching position for the 2007 Currie Cup, whilst Muir took time off to add to his qualifications and learn from some of the most successful coaches in rugby history, such as Sir Clive Woodward.

[edit] Captains

• Gary Teichmann (1996 - 1999)
• Wayne Fyvie (2000)
• Mark Andrews (2001 - 2002)
• Shaun Sowerby (2003)
• John Smit (2004 - 2007)
• Johann Muller (2008 - )

[edit] Records

Team and individual:^[7]

[edit] Team

• Most points in a match: 73 (v Elephants, 2007)
• Most points in a season: 509(2007)
• Most tries in a match: 12 (v Elephants, 2007)
• Most tries in a season: 98(2007)
• Biggest winning margin: 61 (v Elephants, 2007)

[edit] Individual

• Most games in a career: 84 (Ollie le Roux)
• Most points in a match: 50 (Gavin Lawless, v Highlanders, 1997)
• Most points in a season: 170 (Gavin Lawless, 1997)
• Most points in a career: 361 (Butch James)
• Most tries in a match: 4 (Gavin Lawless, v Highlanders, 1997), 4 (Stefan Terblanche, v Chiefs, 1998)
• Most tries in a season: 13 (James Small, 1996)
• Most tries in a career: 29 (Stefan Terblanche)
• Most conversions in a match: 9 (Gavin Lawless, v Highlanders, 1997)
• Most conversions in a season: 25 (Gavin Lawless, 1997)
• Most conversions in a career: 64 (Henry Honiball)
• Most penalty goals in a match: 7 (Gavin Lawless, v NSW Waratahs, 1997)
• Most penalty goals in a season: 30 (Gavin Lawless, 1997)
• Most penalty goals in a career: 73 (Butch James)
• Most drop goals in a match: 1
• Most drop goals in a season: 2 (Butch James, 2003), Tony Brown (2006)
• Most drop goals in a career: 3 (Butch James)

[edit] Honours

• Super 12/14
  • Runners-up: 1996
  • Runners-up: 2001
  • Semi-finalists: 1997
  • Semi-finalists: 1998
  • First South African team to finish top of the super rugby log 2007

[edit] References

[edit] Bibliography

• Howitt, Bob (2005). SANZAR Saga - Ten Years of Super 12 and Tri-Nations Rugby. Harper Collins Publishers. ISBN 1-86950-566-2. 
• McIlraith, Matt (2005). Ten Years of Super 12. Hodder Moa. ISBN 1-86971-025-8. 

[edit] External links

• Sharks rugby Official site