Month: February 2026

Jaco at 15 for Loftus

Mapimpi is back to face the Bulls with Jaco Williams (no Aphelele Fassi) at 15. Jurenzo Julius (no Ethan Hooker) is partnering Andre Esterhuizen in a new centre combination.

Ox Nche and Vincent Koch will add some needed scrum power for the Sharks but Bongi Mbonambi is also still missing. Tino Mavesere, Vincent Tshituka and Phepsi Buthelezi forms a decent loose trio.

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Sharks missing Boks for Lions

The Sharks will take on the Lions at Ellis Park without a number of Bok players (e.g. Ox, Bongi, Siya, Grant, Andre, Ethan) due to rest protocols. Edwill van der Merwe and Aphelele Fassi will start with Vincent Koch on the bench. Thomas Dyer will get his second start for the Sharks at the back of the scrum. Interestingly Jurenzo Julius has been selected at inside centre and Francois Venter at outside.

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Coaching changes

The Sharks have now implemented the coaching changes that was hinted at:

Firstly JPP has now been appointed as the permanent head coach of the Sharks team. Scott Mathie will join as the new attack coach next season and as far as I can tell Warren Whitely, Philip Lemmer and Joey Mongale will retain their assistant positions.

Neil Powell will no longer look over the coach’s shoulder but will become the new Head of Junior Rugby.

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