URC 2026/2027 squads rated: Sharks

After a dismal United Rugby Championship campaign last season, when they finished 10th having ended the previous season third, the Sharks have embarked on quite a recruitment drive.

While JP Pietersen’s side have welcomed many players, they have also seen plenty leave, including several of Rassie Erasmus’ favourites for the Springboks.

The result is a Sharks 67-man squad containing a large contingent of Springboks in their mid-to-late 30s, allied with a host of South Africa U20 internationals and recent Junior Springboks who have plenty of potential but are yet to fully prove themselves.

What may be lacking is the real class in between those two age brackets, but there are still options in a vast squad made up of 36 forwards and 31 backs.

With that said, there are still plenty of World Cup winners in this squad; how much game time they get a year out from the showcase in Australia is yet to be seen. Here’s how the squad rates:

Fixture

United Rugby Championship

Sharks

07:00

26 Sep 26

Ospreys

All Stats and Data

Loosehead props: Cameron Dawson, Phatu Ganyane, Rambo Kubheka, Simphiwe Matanzima, Ox Nché, Simphiwe Ngobese, Nemo Roelofse
Having arguably the best loosehead on the planet in Nche will obviously make the Sharks scrum dangerous whenever (emphasis on whenever) he plays. After a decade of honing his craft in France, Roelofse has arrived to serve as one of two experienced back-ups with Dawson. Thereafter, it is a youthful look, but having three Junior Boks in Kubheka, 20, Ganyane, 23, and Ngobese, 21, bodes well for the future. For the here and now, it just depends on how much Nche plays as the options behind him won’t strike fear into opponents. But simply for having Nche, the rating is high. Rating: 8/10

Tighthead props: Thomas du Toit, Dian Heunis, Hanro Jacobs, Vincent Koch, Trevor Nyakane, Lee-Marvin Mazibuko
On the surface, the Sharks’ tighthead department looks formidable. Bringing in one of the game’s very best in Du Toit is great business, and then having two World Cup winners in Koch and Nyakane behind him creates the illusion of a sensational line-up. But Koch is now 36, and the 37-year-old Nyakane has been ravaged by injuries in recent years – they may not be the forces they once were. There are experienced options behind that trio though, including South Africa A representative Jacobs, meaning the Sharks may not have too many problems even if Koch and Nyakane have limited game time. Rating: 8/10

Hookers: Ethan Bester, Fez Mbatha, Bongi Mbonambi, Esethu Mnebelele, Eduan Swart, Liam van Wyk
Similarly to tightheads, having Mbonambi looks great on paper, but the double World Cup winner is now 35 and facing questions over his form. He will, however, be desperate to break his way back into the Springboks set-up, which makes him a dangerous proposition. Though new signing from the Bulls, Mnebelele, is only 20, and van Wyk is only 19, they have both been earmarked by Rassie Erasmus, with the pair running out for South Africa A earlier this year. The aforementioned may be at extreme ends of their careers, but there is potential for a great season if they all come good. Rating: 7.5/10

Locks: Eben Etzebeth, Jason Jenkins, Darrien Landsberg, Coetzee le Roux, Stephan Lewies, Jannes Potgieter, Corne Rahl, Deon Slabbert, Emile van Heerden, Johan Momsen, Thomas Dyer
In a common theme in this squad, there is a recognised Springbok, Etzebeth, followed by some experienced club players and some unproven younger prospects. Just how much Etzebeth plays is unknown, but they have bolstered their options with Landsberg, Momsen and the one-cap Bok Lewies. Rating: 7.5/10

Back-rows: Phepsi Buthelezi, Nick Hatton, Tinotenda Mavesere, Matt Romao, Hendré Stassen, Emmanuel Tshituka, Vincent Tshituka
Losing Stormers-bound Siya Kolisi is a huge blow to the Sharks, who are now bereft of an established Bok in their back-row. They do have one-cap Boks Buthelezi and Vincent Tshituka, both high-class operators in the URC, but this back-row does seem to be lacking real class and a depth of solid options compared to other back-rows in the league. Rating: 6/10

Scrum-halves: Ross Braude, Bradley Davids, Ceano Everson, Jaden Hendrikse, Juan Loots, Ivan van Zyl
Veteran Springbok Van Zyl has arrived in Durban from Saracens to provide some much-needed experience to a side who have waved goodbye to Grant Williams. They still have another Springbok in Jaden Hendrikse, who will be looking to rediscover his best form, but behind that pair, there isn’t a huge amount of experience. There is, again, youth, and the promising 21-year-old former Junior Bok Everson may enjoy more game time. Rating: 6.5/10

Fly-halves: Jordan Hendrikse, Gianni Lombard, Siya Masuku, Vusi Moyo
Another position where there is a lot of potential, but not yet any concrete evidence that this will be a problem area for opponents. This is, of course, due to the 20-year-old Moyo’s inexperience, but he already has a South Africa cap to his name. He will likely compete with Jordan Hendrikse for the No.10 jersey, but new-arrival Lombard provides solid back-up, as does Masuku. Rating: 7/10

Centres: Albie Bester, André Esterhuizen, Matthew Fortuin, Jurenzo Julius, Murray Koster, Lyle Matthews, Ma’a Nonu, Janco Purchase
A name that stands out here is Nonu’s, although the 44-year-old looks to hold more of a mentoring role rather than a playing one. Despite being a hybrid option for the Springboks, club captain Esterhuizen will likely be the custodian of the No.12 jersey for the upcoming season, and will likely partner rising star Julius in the midfield, though Ethan Hooker may step in there from time to time. Outside of that, there isn’t necessarily a great depth of established options. Rating: 7/10

Wings: Ethan Hooker, Litelihle Bester, Donavan Don, Suleiman Hartzenberg, Makazole Mapimpi, Yaw Penxe, Khuthi Rasivhaga, Phiko Sobahle, Edwill van der Merwe, Jaco Williams
Once again, this department contains a Bok in the twilight of their career, Mapimpi, and several exciting rookies, particularly 21-year-old Williams, who Erasmus capped against Wales this year. Maybe what separates the wings is that the players between the old and the young are recognised names on the international circuit. Hooker is already an established Springbok and Van der Merwe has not looked out of place when donning the green jersey. Rating: 8/10

Full-backs: Luan Giliomee, Zekhethelo Siyaya
Both 20-year-old Giliomee and 19-year-old Siyaya ran out for South Africa A earlier this year against Zimbabwe, which underlines how highly they are regarded in South African rugby. There is immense potential for the future, but it is unclear what can be expected this season from such an inexperienced pair. Of course, there are wing options who can shift to full-back, such as Williams, but that doesn’t necessarily add a huge amount of experience there. Aphelele Fassi’s move to Japan does leave quite a hole here. Rating: 6.5/10

Overall rating: 72/100 

Transfers
In: Thomas du Toit (Bath), Stephan Lewies (Harlequins), Nemo Roelofse (Perpignan), Gianni Lombard (Lions), Ivan van Zyl (Saracens), Donavan Don (South Africa Sevens), Murray Koster (Hino Red Dolphins), Esethu Mnebelele (Bulls), Hendré Stassen (Brive), Darrien Landsberg (Lions), Ma’a Nonu (Toulon), Suleiman Hartzenberg (Stormers).

Out: Siya Kolisi (Stormers), Jean Smith (Benetton), Le Roux Malan (Cardiff), Hakeem Kunene (Bulls), Mawande Mdanda (Bulls), Marvin Orie (released), Grant Williams (Kobelco Kobe Steelers), Aphelele Fassi (Toshiba Brave Lupus), Francois Venter (retired), Diego Appollis (released), Ruan Dreyer (released).