The Sharks pack scrums down against the Stormers during the Super Hero Sunday match played at Soccer City, Johannesburg, South Africa, 19 January 2020. Photo: EPA/KIM LUDBROOK
Sharks Super Rugby 2020: Fixtures, results, kick off times, squad and scores
Get all the latest news, fixtures, results and standings for the Sharks during the 2020 Super Rugby season here.
The Sharks pack scrums down against the Stormers during the Super Hero Sunday match played at Soccer City, Johannesburg, South Africa, 19 January 2020. Photo: EPA/KIM LUDBROOK
The new-look Sharks will take to the Super Rugby field in 2020 hoping an exodus of star names doesn’t derail the improvement they showed throughout 2019.
Kwa-Zulu Natal’s franchise have suffered as much as any other in South Africa from the seemingly annual player drain overseas, with Coenie Oosthuizen, Akker van der Merwe and twins Jean-Luc and Dan du Preez all taking up contracts with English Premiership club Sale Sharks.
There will also be a Beast-shaped hole in the front row after the exit of veteran Tendai Mtawarira following the Springboks’ 2019 World Cup glory in Japan.
Even coach Robert du Preez has packed his bags, with Currie Cup boss Sean Everitt stepping up to take his place for 2020.
Kings Park will at least see a host of new faces as the Sharks look to go deep into the knockout stages, with Ox Nche, Henco Venter, Werner Kok and Sikhumbuzo Notshe among those heading to the coast.
Sharks Super Rugby history
The Sharks have suffered agony as losing Super Rugby finalists on four occasions, since the tournament’s expansion in 1996.
A heavy defeat to the Blues in that first year secured their maiden runners-up finish, followed five years later by a similarly emphatic loss to the Brumbies in the showpiece.
Silverware continued to elude them in 2007 as South African rivals the Bulls pipped the men from Kwa-Zulu Natal by a single point, before being blown away by the Chiefs in their most recent final appearance, in 2012.
The Sharks did go on to win the South African conference in 2014 before reaching the overall semi-finals ahead of the exit of coach Jake White.
Recent Super Rugby record (overall standings)
2019: 6th 2018: 8th 2017: 8th 2016: 8th 2015: 11th
Sharks 2020 Super Rugby squad
Andisa Ntsila, Celimpilo Gumede, Craig Burden, Dylan Richardson, Emile van Heerden, Evan Roos, Fezokuhle Mbatha, Henco Venter, Hyron Andrews, James Venter, JJ van der Mescht, John-Hubert Meyer, Jordan Sesink-Clee, Juan Schoeman, Kerron van Vuuren, Khutha Mchunu, Le Roux Roets, Lubabalo (Tera) Mtembu, Michael Kumbirai, Mzamo Majola, Ox Nche, Phepsi Buthelezi, Ruben van Heerden, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Thomas du Toit, Tyler Paul, Andre Esterhuizen, Aphelele Fassi, Cameron Wright, Curwin Bosch, Grant Williams, Boeta Chamberlain, Jeremy Ward, Jordan Chait, JP Pietersen, Louis Schreuder, Lukhanyo Am (captain), Lwazi Mvovo, Madosh Tambwe, Makazole Mapimpi, Marius Louw, Murray Koster, Sanele Nohamba, S’bu Nkosi and Thaakir Abrahams.
Sharks 2020 Super Rugby fixtures and results
Times are SAST.
