Edwill van der Merwe says he joined the Sharks to “be part of a winning team” and play under coach John Plumtree.
The Springbok wing swapped Joburg for Durban after four years with the Lions, turning down an approach from the Sale Sharks in England to stay in South Africa.
“I spent four seasons at the Lions and I felt I was at a point in my career where I needed something fresh,” Van der Merwe told IOL Sport.
“The team that appealed to me the most was the Sharks because of the number of Springboks they have, and my ambition is to play for the Springboks. To be surrounded by that many Boks will elevate my game.
“So I am in Durban to learn, to grow, and to contribute to the team. This is a very good progression in my career. I feel being in Durban gives me the best opportunity to take my career to the next level. The quality of the players at the Sharks is incredible. I have been here in Durban for three weeks and am taking everything in.”
The 29-year-old was a late bloomer, making his Test debut for the Boks against against Wales in June last year. He said playing for an ambitious franchise under Plumtree also appealed to him.
“One of the big reasons I chose the Sharks is because they are a team competing for trophies, and that is something I want to achieve. I want to be part of a winning team.
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“I find John Plumtree a very knowledgeable coach. I have enjoyed working under him, and we had the warm-up game against the Stormers last week. It is interesting to see how he operates on game day. I especially enjoy his speeches before training and the games. He is a coach I can play for.”
Welcome to the Sharks family, Edwill van der Merwe
pic.twitter.com/eFHDPBKfkE
— The Sharks (@SharksRugby) March 31, 2025
Photo: @edwill_vdm/Instagram
The post Edwill: Plum a coach I can play for appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.