2024–25 Sharks (rugby union) season

The Sharks
Full name	The Sharks
Union	South African Rugby Union
Emblem(s)	Shark
Founded	1890 (Natal Rugby Union) ; 1995 (Sharks franchise)
Location	Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Region	KwaZulu-Natal
Ground(s)	Hollywoodbets Kings Park Stadium (Capacity: 54,000)
CEO	Eduard Coetzee
Director of Rugby	Neil Powell
Coach(es)	John Plumtree
Captain(s)	Lukhanyo Am
League(s)	United Rugby Championship
1st kit	2nd kit
Official website
	sharksrugby.co.za

The 2024–25 season is the Sharks's fourth season in the United Rugby Championship, their 31st season of professional rugby and their 137th sseaon of representative rugby since their foundation as the Natal Rugby Union. Along with competing in the URC and its South African Shield competition, the club will also participate in the 2024-25 European Rugby Challenge Cup.

Senior squad

The Sharks squad for the 2024–25 United Rugby Championship is:^[1]

Sharks United Rugby Championship squad
Props Ruan Dreyer Hanro Jacobs Vincent Koch Ntuthuko Mchunu Mawande Mdanda Khwezi Mona Ox Nché Trevor Nyakane Braam Reyneke Phatu Ganyane Hookers Ethan Bester Fez Mbatha Bongi Mbonambi Dylan Richardson Bryce Calvert Locks Thomas Dyer Eben Etzebeth Gerbrandt Grobler Jason Jenkins Corne Rahl Emile van Heerden Coetzee le Roux Meno Barnard	Loose forwards Siya Kolisi Phepsi Buthelezi Nick Hatton Jeandre Labuschagne Tinotenda Mavesere Emmanuel Tshituka Vincent Tshituka James Venter Jannes Potgieter Batho Hlekani Scrum-halves Bradley Davids Tiaan Fourie Jaden Hendrikse Grant Williams Fly-halves Jordan Hendrikse Siya Masuku Lionel Cronjé Jean Smith	Centres Lukhanyo Am Diego Appollis André Esterhuizen Ethan Hooker Jurenzo Julius Francois Venter Lilelihle Bester Wingers Eduan Keyter Makazole Mapimpi Yaw Penxe Marnus Potgieter Fullbacks Aphelele Fassi Hakeem Kunene
(c) Denotes team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped, ^ST denotes a short-term signing.

Results

United Rugby Championship

Main table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	TB	LB	Pts	Qualification
1	Leinster (Q)	17	15	0	2	529	251	+278	77	33	11	1	72	Qualifies for home URC quarter-final; Qualification for the 2025–26 Champions Cup
2	Bulls (Q)	17	13	0	4	497	346	+151	61	39	8	3	63
3	Glasgow Warriors (Q)	17	11	0	6	463	314	+149	69	39	10	5	59
4	Sharks (Q)	17	12	0	5	424	399	+25	55	56	7	3	58
5	Stormers (q)	17	9	0	8	473	394	+79	61	53	10	4	50	Qualifies for URC quarter-final; Qualification for the 2025–26 Champions Cup
6	Scarlets	17	9	1	7	424	370	+54	49	52	6	4	48
7	Benetton	17	9	1	7	372	448	−76	47	61	7	1	46
8	Munster	17	8	0	9	414	408	+6	63	56	10	4	46
9	Cardiff	17	8	1	8	385	443	−58	59	60	9	3	46	Qualification for the 2025–26 Challenge Cup
10	Edinburgh	17	7	1	9	424	390	+34	59	53	7	7	44
11	Ospreys (E)	17	7	1	9	409	425	−16	56	58	5	3	38
12	Ulster (E)	17	7	0	10	397	459	−62	56	64	5	5	38
13	Lions (E)	17	7	0	10	373	412	−39	48	56	4	3	35
14	Connacht (E)	17	5	0	12	398	460	−62	61	50	9	6	35
15	Zebre Parma (E)	17	5	1	11	297	474	−177	32	64	3	4	29
16	Dragons (E)	17	1	0	16	320	582	−262	40	83	1	4	9

Updated to match(es) played on 9 May 2025. Source: UnitedRugby.com
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers for teams tied on points: 1) Number of matches won 2) The difference between points for and points against 3) The number of tries scored 4) The most points scored 5) The difference between tries for and tries against 6) The fewest red cards received 7) The fewest yellow cards received.^[2]

South African shield

2024–25 United Rugby Championship Regional Shield Pools

view · watch · edit · discuss

South African Shield

Team

P

W

D

L

PF

PA

PD

TF

TA

TBP

LBP

Pts

Pos overall

1

Sharks (S)

6

4

0

2

129

135

-6

17

20

2

1

19

4

2

Stormers

6

3

0

3

142

130

+12

19

15

3

18

5

3

Bulls

6

3

0

3

151

141

+10

19

17

3

2

17

2

4

Lions

6

2

0

4

141

157

-16

19

22

1

10

13

If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:^[3]

number of matches won
the difference between points for and points against
the number of tries scored
the most points scored
the difference between tries for and tries against
the fewest red cards received
the fewest yellow cards received

Green background indicates teams currently leading the regional shield. Upon the conclusion of the regular season, these teams win their respective regional shields.

(S) : URC Shield champion

Round 1

8 Match 2025 (rearranged)	(1 BP) Sharks	25–22	Lions	Hollywoodbets Kings Park
	Try: Williams Kolisi (2) Hatton Con: Hendrikse Pen: Hendrikse	Report	Try: Mafura Kriel Marais Con: Lombard (2) Pen: Lombard	Attendance: 15,165

Round 2

28 September 2024	(1 BP) Connacht	36–30	Sharks (1 BP)	The Sportsground, Galway
19:35	Try: Heffernan (2) 3' c, 50' m Forde 42' c Jennings 54' c Dowling 70' c Con: Ioane (1/1) 4' Forde (3/4) 43', 55', 71' Pen: Forde (1) 79'		Try: Esterhuizen (2) 21' c, 28' c Grobler 37' c Con: Masuku (3/3) 22', 30', 39' Pen: Jo. Hendrikse (2) 24', 34' Masuku 80'+1	Attendance: 4,217^[4] Referee: Federico Vedovelli (Italy)

Round 3

5 October 2024	(1 BP) Dragons	30–33	Sharks (1 BP)	Rodney Parade, Newport
17:15	Try: Basham 17' c Coleman 26' m R. Williams 37' c Carter 54' m Con: L. Evans (2/3) 17', 38' Pen: L. Evans 3' Reed 58'		Try: V. Tshituka 21' m Ja. Hendrikse 39' c Julius 44' c Hooker 48' c Mbatha 80'+4 Con: Masuku (4/5) 40', 45', 49', 80'+7	Attendance: 4,591^[5] Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)

Round 4

12 October 2024	(1 BP) Benetton	38–10	Sharks	Stadio Monigo, Treviso
16:00	Try: Odogwu 23' c Smith (2) 29' c, 68' c Mendy 37' c Marin 75' c Con: Umaga (5/5) 24', 31', 38', 69', 76' Pen: Umaga (1) 10'		Try: Mchunu 80' c Con: Cronjé 80' (1/1) Pen: Masuku 17'	Attendance: 3,900 Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)

Round 5

19 October 2024	Sharks	28–24	Glasgow Warriors (2 BP)	Kings Park Stadium, Durban
15:45	Try: Kolisi 26' c Fassi 33' m Williams 70' Con: Jo. Hendrikse (2/3) 27', 71' Pen: Jo. Hendrikse (3/4) 11', 45', 66'		Try: Horne (2) 17' c, 36' Darge 79' m Matthews 80'+1 c Con: Horne (1/2) 18' Hastings (1/2) 80'+2	Attendance: 10,799 Referee: Chris Busby, Ireland

Round 6

26 October 2024	(1 BP) Sharks	41–24	Munster (1 BP)	Kings Park Stadium, Durban
16:00	Try: Fassi 0' c Mapimpi 4' c Williams 23' c Esterhuizen 36' c Tshituka 65' c Con: Jo. Hendrikse (5/5) 1', 5', 24', 37', 66' Pen: Jo. Hendrikse (2) 13', 48'		Try: Ahern 18' m Haley 30' m Nash 73' c Beirne 80' Con: Burns (2/2) 73', 80'+1	Attendance: 19,465^[6] Referee: Hollie Davidson, Scotland

Round 7

30 November 2024	Sharks	21–15	Stormers (1 BP)	Kings Park Stadium, Durban
16:00	Try: Hooker 11' c Kolisi 16' c Esterhuizen 58' c Con: Masuku (2/2) 12', 17' Jo. Hendrikse (1/1) 60'		Try: Zas 44' m penalty try 79' Drop: Feinberg-Mngomezulu 24'	Attendance: 33,744^[7] Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)

Round 8

21 December 2024	Sharks	20–17	Bulls (1 BP)	Kings Park Stadium, Durban
17:00	Try: Ja. Hendrikse 18' c penalty try Con: Jo. Hendrikse (1/1) 19' Pen: Jo. Hendrikse (2) 6', 69'	Report	Try: Wiese 24' c Vorster 28' c penalty try 52' Con: Goosen (2/2) 24', 28' Pen: Goosen (2) 47', 52'	Attendance: 34,827^[8] Referee: Morné Ferreira, South Africa

Round 9

28 December 2024	'(1 BP)' Stormers	24-20	Sharks (1 BP)	Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town
17:00	Try: Senatla 09' m Fourie 53' m Libbok 66' c J. du Plessis 77' c Con: Libbok (2/4) 68', 79'	Report	Try: Penxe 32' c Jo. Hendrikse 70' c Con: Jo. Hendrikse (2/2) 33', 72' Pen: Jo. Hendrikse (2) 05', 74'	Attendance: 46,002^[9] Referee: Aimee Bsrrett-Theron

Round 10

25 January 2025	Cardiff	22–42	Sharks	Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff
17:15	Try: Mann 6' m Bowen (2) 36' m, 43' c Hamer-Webb 57' m Con: Sheedy (1/4) 44'		Try: Mbonambi (2) 14' c, 41' c Julius 17' c Mapimpi 31' c F. Venter 72' c Penxe 75' c Con: Jo. Hendrikse (6/6) 14', 18', 32', 41', 73', 76'	Attendance: 11,687

Round 11

15 February 2025	Bulls	19–29	Sharks (1 BP)	Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria
17:00	Try: Wessels, 3'c Grobbelaar, 46', 77'c Con: Kriel, 4' Chamberlain, 78'	Report	Try: Hooker, 9'c Hendrikse, 56' Mavesere, 68'c Penxe, 72'c Con: Hendrikse, 9' Masuku, 69', 73' Pen: Hendrikse, 33'	Attendance: 23,307

Round 12

1 March 2025	(1 BP) Lions	38–14	Sharks	Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg
14:30	Try: Botha 6' c F. Horn 14' c van der Merwe 37' m Kriel 41' m Cairns 59' c Lombard 70' c Con: Lombard (3/5) 7', 15', 60' Steyn (1/1) 71'	Report	Try: Hooker 77' c Kolisi 80' c Con: Jo. Hendrikse (2/2) 78', 80'	Attendance: 11,542

Round 13

22 March 2025	(1 BP) Sharks	35-34	Zebre Parma (2 BP)	Kings Park Stadium, Durban
14:45	Try: Kolisi, 3'c, 31'c Julius, 11'c Koch, 36'c Hooker, 74'c Con: Hendrikse (5)	[ Report]	Try: Gesi, 13'c Ferrari, 22'c Prisciantelli, 46'c, 49'c Con: Montemauri (4) Pen: Montemauri, 29', 52'	Attendance: 9,935

Round 14

29 March 2025	(1 BP) Sharks	7 - 10	Leinster	Kings Park Stadium, Durban
19:15	Try: Mbonambi, 52 Con: Hendrikse, 53'	Report:ESPN Report:The Citzen	Try: McErlean, 19' Penny, 48'	Attendance: 28,229

Round 15

18 April 2025	(1 BP) Edinburgh	17-18	Sharks	Hive Stadium, Edinburgh
19:35	Try: Lang, 11' Ritchie, 27' Ashman, 47'c Con: Ashamn (1/3) 47'	Report	Try: Fassi, 41' Mapimpi, 80' Con: Hendrikse (1/2), 41' Pen: Hendrikse, 3', 38'	Attendance: 7,774 Referee: Andrew Brace

Round 16

26 April 2025	(1 BP) Ulster	19-22	Sharks	Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast
19:35	Try: Murphy, 7' Postlethwaite, 10' Doak, 30' Con: Murphy, 10', 31'	Report, 2	Try: Mapimpi, 34' Tshituka, 61' Julius, 70' Con: Hendrikse, 62', 71' Pen: Hendrikse, 78'	Attendance: 16,350 Referee: Ben Whitehouse

Round 17

9 May 2025	(1 BP) Sharks	29–10	Ospreys	Kings Park Stadium, Durban
19:00	Try: Jenkins, 10' Esterhuizen, 33' Hooker, 51' Buthelezi, 65' Con: Masuku 11', 52' Pen: Fassi, 34' Masuku, 81'	Report	Try: Parry, 60' Con: Edwards, 61' Pen: Edwards, 2'	Attendance: not announced

Round 18

17 May 2025	Sharks	v	Scarlets	Kings Park Stadium, Durban
19:30

Play-offs

The top eight teams in the regular season standings advance to the knockout stage, a single-elimination tournament culminating in a Grand Final to crown the overall champion.

Teams are seeded based on the regular season standings, with teams ranked 1-4 receiving home field advantage in the quarter-final, with 1 playing 8, 2 playing 7 etc. The top two teams in the standings are seeded so as not to meet until the Grand Final. The four home quarter finalists were confirmed as Leinster, Glasgow Warriors, Bulls and Sharks in Round 17 when Sharks defeated Ospreys 29-10. With a 76 - 5 victory over Zebre Parma, Leinster Rugby confirmed their number one seeding for a third year out of four, and home field advantage for the duration of their campaign in the play-offs.

Home field advantage for the semi-finals and Grand Final will be awarded to the highest ranked team in each tie; the top two teams are therefore guaranteed home advantage until the final for as long as they remain in the tournament, and the top ranked team in the standings will be awarded home advantage should they reach the Grand Final. In three seasons of the URC, no number one ranked team from the regular season has yet made the Grand Final, and of the three finals, two have been won by the visiting team.

Quarter-finals		Semi-finals	2025 URC Grand Final

1	Leinster

8



4

5



3

6



2

7

.

European competition

European Rugby Champions Cup

European Rugby Champions Cup Pool 1
Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	TB	Pts	Qualification
1	Bordeaux (1)	4	4	0	217	76	+141	33	12	4	20	Home Champions Cup round of 16.
2	Toulouse (5)	4	4	0	225	62	+163	33	9	3	19	Home Champions Cup round of 16.
3	Leicester Tigers (10)	4	2	2	134	149	−15	20	21	3	11	Away Champions Cup round of 16.
4	Ulster (16)	4	1	3	102	163	−61	15	24	1	5	Away Champions Cup round of 16.
5	Sharks (12CC)	4	1	3	76	163	−87	10	23	1	5	Away Challenge Cup round of 16.
6	Exeter Chiefs	4	0	4	83	224	−141	13	34	1	1

Source: EPCR^[10]
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers for teams tied on points: 1) Number of matches won; 2) Difference between points for and against; 3) Total number of points for; 4) Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams; 5) Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled.

Round 1

7 December 2024
13:00

(1 BP) Sharks	39–21	Exeter Chiefs
Try: Buthelezi 20' c Mapimpi 23' m Williams 26' c Kolisi (2) 35' c, 55' c Con: Jo. Hendrikse (4/5) 21', 27', 37', 57' Pen: Jo. Hendrikse (2/2) 45', 69'	Report	Try: Frost (2) 13' c, 40' c Feyi-Waboso 66' c Con: Hodge (3/4) 15', 40+1', 67'

Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban
Attendance: 10,452
Referee: Jeremy Rozier (France)

Round 2

14 December 2024
17:30

(1 BP) Leicester Tigers	56–17	Sharks
Try: Montoya (2) 9' c, 24' c Hassell-Collins 27' c Kata 34' c Pollard 39' c Poortvliet 43' c Clare 71' c Ilione 80+2' c Con: Pollard (6/6) 10', 25', 28', 35', 40', 44' Shillcock (2/2) 72', 80+2'	Report	Try: E. Tshituka 20' c Hooker 60' c Con: Masuku (2/2) 21', 61' Pen: Masuku (1/1) 3'

Mattioli Woods Welford Road, Leicester
Attendance: 17,168
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)

Round 3

11 January 2025
15:15

Sharks	8–20	Toulouse
Try: Julius 66' m Pen: J.O. Hendrikse (1/1) 13'	Report	Try: Meafou 9' c Kinghorn 42' c Con: Ramos (2/2) 9', 43' Pen: Ramos (2/2) 35', 40+2'

Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban
Attendance: 24,762
Referee: Luke Pearce (England)

Round 4

19 January 2025
13:00

(1 BP) Bordeaux Bègles	66–12	Sharks
Try: Penaud (6) 12' m, 17' c, 39' c, 66' c, 71' m, 75' c Lucu 43' c Boniface 49' c Moefana 53' c Nguimbous 78' c Con: Jalibert (8/10) 18', 40', 44', 50', 54', 67', 76', 79'	Report	Try: Masuku 3' c Kunene 7' m Con: Masuku (1/2) 4'

Stade Chaban-Delmas, Bordeaux
Attendance: 32,135
Referee: Christophe Ridley (England)

European Rugby Challenge Cup

By finishing fifth in their Champions Cup pool, Sharks qualified for the Round of 15 in the European Rugby Challenge Cup. As 12th seed, they were drawn away to French side Lyon.

Round of 16			Quarter-finals			Semi-finals			Final

3	Edinburgh	24

14	Lions	12
			3	Edinburgh	34

			11	Bulls	28
6	Bayonne	22

11	Bulls	32
						3	Edinburgh	24

						10	Bath Rugby	39
7	Pau	24

10	Bath Rugby	49
			10	Bath Rugby	61

			15	Gloucester	26
2	Montpellier	17

15	Gloucester	24
									10	Bath Rugby

									5	Lyon
4	Ospreys	36

13	Scarlets	14
			4	Ospreys	18

			5	Lyon	20
5	Lyon	34

12	Sharks	21
						5	Lyon	29

						9	Racing 92	15
1	Connacht	35

16	Cardiff	20
			1	Connacht	40

			9	Racing 92	43
8	Perpignan	18

9	Racing 92	24

Round of 16

6 April 2025
18:30

Lyon (5)	34–21	(12) Sharks
Try: Tchaptchet 16' m William 20' c Charcosset 27' c Maraku 37' m Rattez 67' c Con: Berdeu (2/4) 21', 28' Méliande (1/1) 67' Pen: Berdeu (1/1) 7'	Report	Try: Mbatha 4' c Rahl 69' c Mavesere 79' c Con: Masuku (1/1) 5' Smith (2/2) 70', 80'

Stade de Gerland, Lyon
Attendance: 10,475
Referee: Federico Vedovelli (Italy)

Sharks are eliminated from the competition.

Home attendance

As of 14 March 2025

League	Fixtures	Total Attendance	Average Attendance	Highest	Lowest	League	Fixtures	Total Attendance	Average Attendance	Highest	Lowest	Total Attendance	Average Attendance
Domestic League						European Champions Cup						Total
2024–25 United Rugby Championship	7	152,264	12,181	34,827	9,935	2024–25 European Rugby Champions Cup	2	35,214	17,607	24,762	10,452	187,518	20,9356

References

^ "URC Sharks Squad". Sharks. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
^ "Competition rules – United Rugby Championship". United Rugby Championship. Archived from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
^ League Format (3) "Competition Rules". United Rugby Championship. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
^ "Half-time reset pays off as Connacht recover from vicious Sharks attack", Irish Times, 30 Sep 2024
^ "Dragons Rugby Fixtures and Results", 7 Oct 2024
^ "Munster Fixtures & Results"
^ "BKT URC Round 7 review: Winnett praised for derby day display against Dragons", Nation.Cymru, 01 December 2024
^ Cite error: The named reference SA sides help URC break records was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ @THESTORMERS (December 28, 2024). "46 002 of you screaming your lungs out. It made all the difference. #STOvSHA #iamastormer #dhldelivers @Vodacom #URC" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
^ "Pool Tables | Investec Champions Cup". www.epcrugby.com. European Professional Club Rugby. Retrieved 2 July 2024.

[Senior_Squad_Archives-1] "URC Sharks Squad". Sharks. Retrieved 5 October 2024.

[2] "Competition rules – United Rugby Championship". United Rugby Championship. Archived from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2025.

[3] League Format (3) "Competition Rules". United Rugby Championship. Retrieved 23 October 2023.

[4] "Half-time reset pays off as Connacht recover from vicious Sharks attack", Irish Times, 30 Sep 2024

[5] "Dragons Rugby Fixtures and Results", 7 Oct 2024

[munster2-6] "Munster Fixtures & Results"

[7] "BKT URC Round 7 review: Winnett praised for derby day display against Dragons", Nation.Cymru, 01 December 2024

[SA_sides_help_URC_break_records-8] Cite error: The named reference SA sides help URC break records was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[9] @THESTORMERS (December 28, 2024). "46 002 of you screaming your lungs out. It made all the difference. #STOvSHA #iamastormer #dhldelivers @Vodacom #URC" (Tweet) – via Twitter.

[10] "Pool Tables | Investec Champions Cup". www.epcrugby.com. European Professional Club Rugby. Retrieved 2 July 2024.

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v t e Sharks – current squad
Forwards	Dian Bleuler Phepsi Buthelezi Ruan Dreyer Thomas Dyer Eben Etzebeth Gerbrandt Grobler Nick Hatton Hanro Jacobs Jason Jenkins Vincent Koch Siya Kolisi Jeandre Labuschagne Tinotenda Mavesere Fez Mbatha Bongi Mbonambi Ntuthuko Mchunu Khwezi Mona Ox Nché Trevor Nyakane Corne Rahl Dylan Richardson Emmanuel Tshituka Vincent Tshituka Emile van Heerden James Venter
Backs	Lukhanyo Am Diego Appollis Bradley Davids André Esterhuizen Aphelele Fassi Tiaan Fourie Jaden Hendrikse Jordan Hendrikse Ethan Hooker Eduan Keyter Makazole Mapimpi Siya Masuku Yaw Penxe Marnus Potgieter Francois Venter Grant Williams
Director of Rugby	Neil Powell