Plumtree on Sharks job: ‘I back myself’

John Plumtree is ready to achieve what the big-spending Sharks are trying to do as he takes over the hot seat in Durban.

“These days expectations are high anywhere you go,” said Plumtree, as reported by IOL.

“There is more pressure in coaching as expectations go up, but I am prepared for that,” Plumtree said. “Expectation doesn’t worry me, I back myself, my coaching team, and my players and the aim is to fill up that grandstand (at Kings Park) and make fans happy.”

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The 57-year-old Plumtree left the Sharks in 2012 after a successful stint but will return in July.

Most recently, he served in All Blacks’ backroom team until 2022 off the back of a spell with the Hurricanes.

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Plumtree is well known in the Sharks circles and will take over from Neil Powell, who is moving full-time into the Director of Rugby role.

Powell was a stop-gap replacement for Sean Everitt, who left in November 2022, after a string of poor showings on the pitch.

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For all their spending on players over the past two seasons, the Durban franchise has struggled to impose themselves on the United Rugby Championship. They were knocked out by the Bulls in the quarter-finals last season and are facing a trip to champions in waiting Leinster this weekend.

Rich history

Plumtree has a rich history with the Sharks which included 80 games for Natal in the early 90s and a Currie Cup win in 1990 over Northern Transvaal.

He was also part of the coaching setup that lost the Super 14 final in 2007 before going on to coach the Sharks to their first Currie Cup in 12 years.

Plumtree will need a whole new team around him with Irishman Noel McNamara, Georgian scrum coach Akvsenti Giorgadze, French forwards consultant Jannick Bru and conditioning coach Allan Temple-Jones all ending their stays in Durban.

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