Sharks: Francois Venter named as new skipper

A new look Sharks side will depart for a tour that starts their 2023/24 URC campaign.

You don’t get a much tougher start to the season than facing defending Munster in Limerick.

NEW SKIPPER FOR THE SHARKS

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Francois “Swys” Venter will lead an experienced Sharks side on their tour to Europe for the upcoming United Rugby Championship season, which kicks off this weekend.

Head coach John Plumtree has selected Venter as his tour captain, the former Free State inside centre making a name for himself in Bloemfontein, with his physical abilities and leadership qualities recognised at SA Schools, SA Under 20, Barbarians, SA ‘A’ and Springbok levels, having accumulated seven test caps for South Africa.

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SHARKS BANK ON EXPERIENCE

The experienced centre will have the likes of Phepsi Buthelezi, Reniel Hugo, James Venter and Sikhumbuzo Notshe to call on for their experience and leadership over the course of the tour.

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With the Springboks away on Rugby World Cup duty, Plumtree has, nevertheless, quality and experience to call on as the Hollywoodbets Sharks kick their 2023/24 VURC campaign off against Irish giants Munster on Saturday (kick-off at 6.15pm) and then Leinster the following Saturday.

Two Friday night matches follow, against Ospreys and then Zebre before the team return to Hollywoodbets Kings Park for a run of home games.

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Fans get the opportunity to welcome back crowd favourite, prop Coenie Oosthuizen, while loose-forward George Cronje has continued the kind of form that had him starring for the Cheetahs before being lured to Durban and he will relish every opportunity he gets to repay The Sharks confidence in him.

The 28-man squad includes 16 forwards and 12 backs, amongst the latter, former Springbok scrumhalf Francois Hougaard will look to add his vast experience to the side in this tough opening month.

Aphiwe Dyantyi, another new off-season signing, will also approach this tour as an opportunity to show why he is so highly rated. Nothing would give him – and his coaches – more pleasure than seeing him perform to his true potential.

The Hollywoodbets Sharks depart for tour this evening and will head straight to Ireland to prepare for their opening match this Saturday.

TOUR SQUAD

Forwards

Coenie Oosthuizen

Corne Rahl

Dan Jooste

Dian Bleuler

Dylan Richardson

Emile van Heerden

George Cronje

Hanro Jacobs

James Venter

Kerron van Vuuren

Khwezi Mona

Ntuthuko Mchunu

Phepsi Buthelezi

Reniel Hugo

Sikumbuzo Notshe

Vincent Tshituka

BACKS

Aphelele Fassi

Aphiwe Dyantyi

Boeta Chamberlain

Cameron Wright

Curwin Bosch

Francois Hougaard

Francois Venter (c)

Marnus Potgieter

Mthokozisi Mkhabela

Murray Koster

Rohan Janse van Rensburg

Werner Kok