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 Kings Park Stadium
Capacity 52,000
Coach Dick Muir
League Super 14
2006 5th
Team colours Team colours Team colours
Team colours
Team colours
　
Home colours
Team colours Team colours Team colours
Team colours
Team colours
　
Away colours

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 represened 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 twice, as Natal in 1996 and as the Sharks in 2001.

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. However, the Spears have since been denied entry into the Super 14. The current team captain is hooker and Springboks captain John Smit. Other star players include Springbok Full-Back, Percy Montgomery

Contents

[edit] History

The Cats (now the Lions) playing the Sharks.
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 finshed 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 won 7 of their 11 games, and finished their best position yet, in third place. They were however defeated by the Crusaders in the semi finals. However 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, their best position yet - 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 they came 12th. In 2006 the Super 12 expanded and became the Super 14. In the first Super 14 season the Sharks narrowly missed the finals, coming in 5th place.

[edit] The Sharks

After being informally called the Banana Boys for a century, some felt it was time for a change. The Sharks branding was the brain child of Terry Kukle, the owner of Tag International. After assessing international marketing trends, Kukle presented this strategy to the council of the Natal Rugby Union. After many meetings a decision was finally made to go ahead with the new branding. The local press at first were very hesitant to accept the new name and branding, but after a very successful season and great products and promotions the Sharks were embraced by all.[citation needed]

The local press at first were very hesitant to accept the new name and branding and fans were polarised by the radical proposed change that flew in the face of rugby tradition and convention. After much controversy in the media (which very rapidly brought the proposed brand to everyone's attention) and a very successful season supported by great products and promotions the Sharks were embraced by all. The Sharks' marketing has been widely acknowledged in marketing and rugby circles as best practice and included as a successful case study in many marketing text books.

[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 52,000. 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] Super Rugby positions

[edit] Super 12 placings

Super 12 Results
Year Played Win Draw Loss PF PA Diff BP Points Place Playoffs
1996 11 6 0 5 389 277 112 9 33 4th Lost final against Auckland
1997 11 5 2 4 321 350 -29 6 30 4th Lost semi-final against Auckland
1998 11 7 0 4 329 263 66 8 36 3rd Lost semi-final against Crusaders
1999 11 5 1 5 241 232 9 3 25 7th
2000 11 1 1 9 235 341 -106 3 9 12th
2001 11 8 0 3 322 246 76 6 38 2nd Lost final against Brumbies
2002 11 4 0 7 183 308 -125 3 19 10th
2003 11 3 0 8 239 306 -67 5 17 11th
2004 11 5 0 6 267 305 -38 8 28 7th
2005 11 1 1 9 205 384 -179 5 11 12th

[edit] Super 14 placings

Super 14 Results
Year Played Win Draw Loss PF PA Diff BP Points Place Playoffs
2006 13 7 0 6 361 297 64 10 38 5th

[edit] Current squad

[edit] Coaches

  • Ian McIntosh (1996 - 1999)
  • Hugh Reece-Edwards (2000)
  • Rudolf Straeuli (2001 - 2002)
  • Kevin Putt (2003 - 2005)
  • Dick Muir (2006 - present)

[edit] Captains

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

[edit] Records

Team and individual:[2]

[edit] Team

  • Most points in a match: 75 (v Highlanders, 1997)
  • Most points in a season: 453 (1996)
  • Most tries in a match: 9 (v Highlanders, 1997)
  • Most tries in a season: 56 (1996)
  • Biggest winning margin: 38 (v Chiefs, 1996)

[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] References

  1. ^ Brief History of The Absa Stadium Durban. Sharks Rugby. Retrieved on 2 February 2007.
  2. ^ Sharks. CRFU. Retrieved on 2 February 2007.

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Super Rugby

1996 • 1997 • 1998 • 1999 • 2000 • 2001 • 2002 • 2003 • 2004 • 2005 • 2006 • 2007

Super 12 champions
1996 Blues • 1997 Blues • 1998 Crusaders • 1999 Crusaders • 2000 Crusaders • 2001 Brumbies • 2002 Crusaders • 2003 Blues • 2004 Brumbies • 2005 Crusaders

Super 14 champions
2006 Crusaders

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