A familiar Sharks face could take over from John Plumtree as head coach.
According to Rapport, former Sharks and Springbok wing JP Pietersen has emerged as a strong contender to take over from Plumtree, with his name increasingly mentioned at Kings Park after the side’s heavy 44-17 defeat to Connacht last weekend.
It left the Sharks languishing at 14th on the Vodacom URC log after six rounds with just one win, and things could get uglier for the Durbanites on Sunday when they take on six-time winners Toulouse in the Investec Champions Cup.
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The 39-year-old Pietersen has been part of the Sharks’ coaching setup for four years and led their Currie Cup team earlier this season. He has also been a regular figure in Plumtree’s coaching box during URC matches.
Pietersen’s potential elevation comes against the backdrop of significant change in Durban. After a poor start to the URC campaign, the franchise announced in late October that Plumtree will step down as head coach by mutual agreement at the end of the 2025-26 season.
The Sharks also committed to appointing a technical consultant “as a matter of urgency” to help reshape their on-field performance and game model.
Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images
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