2024–25 Sharks (rugby union) season

The Sharks
Full nameThe Sharks
UnionSouth African Rugby Union
Emblem(s)Shark
Founded1890 (Natal Rugby Union)
1995 (Sharks franchise)
LocationDurban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
RegionKwaZulu-Natal
Ground(s)Hollywoodbets Kings Park Stadium (Capacity: 54,000)
CEOEduard Coetzee
Director of RugbyNeil 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 Champions Cup. During the season, they 'dropped' into the 2024-25 EPCR Challenge Cup, in which they were defending champions.

In April they confirmed victory in the URC South African Shield competition, their first URC silverware. They also confirmed a play-off place and home quarter-final in the main United Rugby Championship.

Senior squad

For player movements before or during the 2024–25 season, see List of 2024–25 United Rugby Championship transfers § Sharks.

The following players were squad members or featured for the Sharks during the 2024–25 United Rugby Championship season:[1]

Sharks United Rugby Championship squad

Props

Hookers

Locks

Loose forwards

Scrum-halves

Fly-halves

Centres

Wingers

Fullbacks

(c) Denotes team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped, ST denotes a short-term signing.
Note: The following players either featured or were contracted by the Sharks during the 2024/2025 URC season but did not complete the season with the team: Dian Heunis, Deon Slabbert, Reniel Hugo, Tian Meyer, Gurshwin Wehr, Cameron Wright, Jeandré Labuschagne, Siyabonga 'Scarra' Ntubeni, Braam Reyneke.

United Rugby Championship

Main table

Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts Qualification
1 Leinster 18 16 0 2 542 256 +286 79 35 11 1 76 Qualifies for home URC quarter-final;
Qualification for the 2025–26 Champions Cup
2 Bulls 18 14 0 4 542 361 +181 71 44 9 3 68
3 Sharks 18 13 0 5 436 402 +34 55 59 7 3 62
4 Glasgow Warriors 18 11 0 7 468 327 +141 70 40 10 5 59
5 Stormers 18 10 0 8 507 418 +89 66 57 11 4 55 Qualifies for URC quarter-final;
Qualification for the 2025–26 Champions Cup
6 Munster 18 9 0 9 444 429 +15 67 59 11 4 51
7 Edinburgh 18 8 1 9 471 407 +64 66 57 9 6 49
8 Scarlets 18 9 1 8 427 382 +45 50 52 6 4 48
9 Cardiff 18 8 1 9 409 477 −68 63 65 10 3 47 Qualification for the 2025–26 Challenge Cup
10 Benetton 18 9 1 8 393 478 −85 50 65 7 1 46
11 Lions 18 8 0 10 402 440 −38 53 60 5 3 40
12 Ospreys 18 7 1 10 437 454 −17 60 63 6 4 40
13 Connacht 18 6 0 12 420 472 −52 64 62 9 6 39
14 Ulster 18 7 0 11 414 506 −92 59 72 5 5 38
15 Zebre Parma 18 5 1 12 302 503 −201 38 72 3 4 29
16 Dragons 18 1 0 17 335 637 −302 43 92 1 4 9
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]


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[3]
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[4]
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[5]
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[6]
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[7]
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[8]
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: 11,599

Rounds 18

17 May 2025 Sharks 12 - 3 Scarlets Kings Park Stadium, Durban  
19:30 Pen: Masuku, 39'
Fassi, 53', 69', 80'
 Report Pen: Costelow, 41
 Attendance: 12,109

Play-offs

Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
         
1 Leinster 33
8 Scarlets 21
1 Leinster 37
4 Glasgow Warriors 19
4 Glasgow Warriors 36
5 Stormers 18
1 Leinster 32
2 Bulls 7
3 Sharks 24 (6)
6 Munster 24 (4)
2 Bulls 25
3 Sharks 13
2 Bulls 42
7 Edinburgh 33

Quarter-final

31 May 2025
5:30pm
Sharks 24-24 (a.e.t.) Munster
Try: Hooker, 46'
Fassi, 68'
Mbatha, 73'
Con: Jaden Hendrikse, 47', 69', 74'
Pen: Jaden Hendrikse, 55'		Try: Nash, 10'
Josh Wycherley, 57'
Kilgallen, 61'
Con: Crowley, 11', 58', 62'
Pen: Murray, 77'
Penalties
Jordan Hendrikse Y
Jaden Hendrikse Y
DavidsY
Jordan Hendrikse Y
Jaden Hendrikse Y
DavidsY		6-4Crowley Y
Scannell N
Murray Y
CrowleyY
Scannell Y
Kings Park Stadium, Durban
Attendance: 22,247

Semi -final

7 June 2025 Bulls v Sharks TBC  

URC South African shield

Sharks won their first URC South African Shield.


2024–25 United Rugby Championship Regional Shield Pools
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 3
2 Stormers 6 3 0 3 142 130 +12 19 15 3 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 1 10 11
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:[9]
  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
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

European competition

European Rugby Champions Cup

European Rugby Champions Cup Pool 1
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts Qualification
1 Bordeaux Bègles (1) 4 4 0 0 217 76 +141 33 12 4 0 20 Home Champions Cup round of 16.
2 Toulouse (5) 4 4 0 0 225 62 +163 33 9 3 0 19
3 Leicester Tigers (10) 4 2 0 2 134 149 −15 20 21 3 0 11 Away Champions Cup round of 16.
4 Ulster (16) 4 1 0 3 102 163 −61 15 24 1 0 5
5 Sharks (12CC) 4 1 0 3 76 163 −87 10 23 1 0 5 Away Challenge Cup round of 16.
6 Exeter Chiefs 4 0 0 4 83 224 −141 13 34 1 0 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'		ReportTry: 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'		ReportTry: 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'		ReportTry: 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'		ReportTry: 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 37
5 Lyon 12
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'		ReportTry: 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

Domestic League European Champions Cup Total
League Fixtures Total Attendance Average Attendance Highest Lowest League Fixtures Total Attendance Average Attendance Highest Lowest Total Attendance Average Attendance
2024–25 United Rugby Championship 10 198,119 19,812 34,827 9,935 2024–25 European Rugby Champions Cup 2 35,214 17,607 24,762 10,452 233,333 19,444

References

  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. ^ "Half-time reset pays off as Connacht recover from vicious Sharks attack", Irish Times, 30 Sep 2024
  4. ^ "Dragons Rugby Fixtures and Results", 7 Oct 2024
  5. ^ "Munster Fixtures & Results"
  6. ^ "BKT URC Round 7 review: Winnett praised for derby day display against Dragons", Nation.Cymru, 01 December 2024
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference SA sides help URC break records was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ @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.
  9. ^ League Format (3) "Competition Rules". United Rugby Championship. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  10. ^ "Pool Tables | Investec Champions Cup". www.epcrugby.com. European Professional Club Rugby. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
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