2018 Sharks (rugby union) season

Sharks
	2018 season
Head coach	Robert du Preez
Captain	Ruan Botha
Stadium	Growthpoint Kings Park, Durban / ; Jonsson Kings Park, Durban
Overall	8th
South African Conference	3rd
Record	Won 7, Drew 1, Lost 8 ; Lost in Quarterfinals
Top try scorer	All: Lukhanyo Am and ; Robert du Preez (5)
Top points scorer	All: Robert du Preez (215)
← 2017	2019 →

Head coachRobert du Preez

CaptainRuan Botha

StadiumGrowthpoint Kings Park, Durban /
Jonsson Kings Park, Durban

Overall8th

In 2018, the Sharks participated in the 2018 Super Rugby competition, the 23rd edition of the competition since its inception in 1996. They were included in the South African Conference of the competition, along with the Bulls, Jaguares, Lions and Stormers.

The Sharks won seven, drew one and lost eight of their matches during the regular season of the competition to finish third in the South African Conference, and in 8th place overall to qualify for the finals as a wildcard team. They lost in their qualifier match to the Crusaders.

2018 Sharks squad
Player	Position/s	Date of birth (age)	Super Rugby		Sharks
Player	Position/s	Date of birth (age)	Apps	Pts	Apps	Pts
Lukhanyo Am	Centre	(1993-11-28)28 November 1993 (aged 24)	25	15	15	10
Hyron Andrews	Lock	(1995-07-06)6 July 1995 (aged 22)	10	0	10	0
Garth April	Fly-half	(1991-07-16)16 July 1991 (aged 26)	20	97	20	97
Tristan Blewett	Centre	(1996-08-26)26 August 1996 (aged 21)	0	0	0	0
Curwin Bosch	Fly-half	(1997-06-25)25 June 1997 (aged 20)	16	156	16	156
Ruan Botha	Lock	(1992-01-10)10 January 1992 (aged 26)	42	10	16	5
Michael Claassens	Scrum-half	(1982-10-28)28 October 1982 (aged 35)	58	5	29	5
Keegan Daniel	Loose forward	(1985-03-05)5 March 1985 (aged 32)	117	80	117	80
Johan Deysel	Centre	(1991-09-26)26 September 1991 (aged 26)	4	5	4	5
Jean Droste	Lock	(1994-01-21)21 January 1994 (aged 24)	3	0	3	0
Dan du Preez	Loose forward	(1995-08-05)5 August 1995 (aged 22)	26	25	26	25
Jean-Luc du Preez	Loose forward	(1995-08-05)5 August 1995 (aged 22)	27	15	27	15
Robert du Preez	Fly-half	(1993-07-30)30 July 1993 (aged 24)	14	107	0	0
Thomas du Toit	Prop	(1995-05-05)5 May 1995 (aged 22)	36	20	36	20
André Esterhuizen	Centre	(1994-03-30)30 March 1994 (aged 23)	40	15	40	15
Ross Geldenhuys	Prop	(1983-04-19)19 April 1983 (aged 34)	52	0	0	0
Gideon Koegelenberg	Lock	(1994-11-25)25 November 1994 (aged 23)	0	0	0	0
Stephan Lewies	Lock	(1992-01-27)27 January 1992 (aged 26)	51	5	51	5
Marius Louw	Centre	(1995-10-24)24 October 1995 (aged 22)	1	0	1	0
Mzamo Majola	Prop	(1995-02-20)20 February 1995 (aged 22)	4	0	0	0
Makazole Mapimpi	Wing	(1990-07-26)26 July 1990 (aged 27)	14	55	0	0
Franco Marais	Hooker	(1992-09-23)23 September 1992 (aged 25)	34	0	34	0
Khutha Mchunu	Prop	(1997-07-01)1 July 1997 (aged 20)	0	0	0	0
John-Hubert Meyer	Prop	(1993-09-19)19 September 1993 (aged 24)	2	0	2	0
Tendai Mtawarira	Prop	(1985-08-01)1 August 1985 (aged 32)	136	25	136	25
Tera Mtembu	Loose forward	(1990-12-09)9 December 1990 (aged 27)	40	15	40	15
Lwazi Mvovo	Wing	(1986-06-03)3 June 1986 (aged 31)	112	170	112	170
S'busiso Nkosi	Wing	(1996-01-21)21 January 1996 (aged 22)	7	15	7	15
Coenie Oosthuizen	Prop	(1989-03-22)22 March 1989 (aged 28)	102	50	28	10
Tyler Paul	Loose forward	(1995-01-20)20 January 1995 (aged 23)	15	5	0	0
Chiliboy Ralepelle	Hooker	(1986-09-11)11 September 1986 (aged 31)	93	30	24	10
Juan Schoeman	Prop	(1991-09-18)18 September 1991 (aged 26)	10	0	10	0
Louis Schreuder	Scrum-half	(1990-04-25)25 April 1990 (aged 27)	80	15	0	0
Rhyno Smith	Fullback	(1993-02-11)11 February 1993 (aged 25)	8	0	8	0
Akker van der Merwe	Hooker	(1991-06-17)17 June 1991 (aged 26)	49	35	0	0
Philip van der Walt	Loose forward	(1989-07-14)14 July 1989 (aged 28)	73	30	24	5
Kerron van Vuuren	Hooker	(1995-05-23)23 May 1995 (aged 22)	0	0	0	0
Kobus van Wyk	Wing	(1992-01-22)22 January 1992 (aged 26)	43	80	13	35
Jacques Vermeulen	Loose forward	(1995-02-08)8 February 1995 (aged 23)	8	0	8	0
Wian Vosloo	Loose forward	(1995-02-15)15 February 1995 (aged 23)	0	0	0	0
Jeremy Ward	Centre	(1996-01-10)10 January 1996 (aged 22)	15	5	13	5
Grant Williams	Scrum-half	(1996-07-22)22 July 1996 (aged 21)	0	0	0	0
Courtney Winnaar	Fullback	(1997-03-27)27 March 1997 (aged 20)	0	0	0	0
Cameron Wright	Scrum-half	(1994-04-20)20 April 1994 (aged 23)	1	0	1	0
Leolin Zas	Wing	(1995-10-20)20 October 1995 (aged 22)	15	40	0	0
Note: Players' ages and statistics are correct as of 17 February 2018, the date of the opening round of the competition.

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	TB	LB	Pts	Qualification
1	Crusaders (C)	16	14	0	2	542	295	+247	77	39	7	0	63	Quarter-finals (Conference leaders)
2	Lions	16	9	0	7	519	435	+84	77	55	6	4	46
3	Waratahs	16	9	1	6	557	445	+112	74	59	4	2	44

4	Hurricanes	16	11	0	5	474	343	+131	66	43	5	2	51	Quarter-finals (Wildcard)
5	Chiefs	16	11	0	5	463	368	+95	60	48	3	2	49
6	Highlanders	16	10	0	6	437	445	−8	59	57	3	1	44
7	Jaguares	16	9	0	7	409	418	−9	51	55	2	0	38
8	Sharks	16	7	1	8	437	442	−5	49	57	2	4	36
9	Rebels	16	7	0	9	440	461	−21	57	60	5	3	36
10	Brumbies	16	7	0	9	393	422	−29	56	52	2	4	34
11	Stormers	16	6	0	10	390	423	−33	46	56	0	5	29
12	Bulls	16	6	0	10	441	502	−61	59	66	2	3	29
13	Reds	16	6	0	10	389	501	−112	49	66	1	3	28
14	Blues	16	4	0	12	378	509	−131	50	66	2	4	22
15	Sunwolves	16	3	0	13	404	664	−260	48	99	0	2	14

Team	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	R8	R9	R10	R11	R12	R13	R14	R15	R16	R17	R18	R19	QF	SF	Final
Opposition	LIO	Bye	WAR	SUN	BRU	REB	BLU	HUR	BUL	STO	Bye	HIG	BUL	CHI	JAG	Bye	LIO	STO	JAG	CRU	—	—
Cumulative Points	1	1	3	8	9	9	13	14	14	18	18	23	24	28	28	28	32	32	36	Lost	—	—
Position (overall)	5th	11th	12th	7th	9th	10th	10th	9th	10th	9th	11th	8th	10th	8th	9th	9th	9th	9th	8th		—	—
Position (SA Conf.)	3rd	4th	4th	2nd	3rd	3rd	3rd	2nd	3rd	3rd	5th	3rd	4th	3rd	3rd	3rd	3rd	3rd	3rd		—	—

Key:	win	draw	loss	bye

	17 February 2018	Lions	26–19	Sharks	Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg
	17:15	Try: Lionel Mapoe 17', 52' Aphiwe Dyantyi 22' Kwagga Smith 59' Con: Elton Jantjies 18', 24', 53'	Report^[2] Scoreboard^[3]	Try: Robert du Preez 8' S'busiso Nkosi 42' Makazole Mapimpi 55' Con: Robert du Preez 9', 56'	Referee: Glen Jackson

	3 March 2018	Sharks	24–24	Waratahs	Kings Park Stadium, Durban
	15:05	Try: Lukhanyo Am 18', 46' Robert du Preez 71' Con: Robert du Preez 19', 47', 72' Pen: Robert du Preez 12'	Report^[4] Scoreboard^[5]	Try: Jake Gordon 4' Michael Hooper 56' Mitch Short 76' Con: Bernard Foley 6', 57', 78' Pen: Bernard Foley 31'	Referee: Jaco Peyper

2018 Sharks (rugby union) season

Squad

Standings

Round-by-round

Matches

Player statistics

See also

References

Related Articles

	10 March 2018	Sharks	50–22	Sunwolves	Kings Park Stadium, Durban
	15:05	Try: Makazole Mapimpi 9', 49' Akker van der Merwe 29' Tera Mtembu 36' Jacques Vermeulen 55' S'busiso Nkosi 68' Cameron Wright 75' Con: Robert du Preez 10', 30', 37', 56', 69' Curwin Bosch 76' Pen: Robert du Preez 2'	Report^[6] Scoreboard^[7]	Try: Lomano Lemeki 45' Wimpie van der Walt 59' Will Tupou 78' Con: Kotaro Matsushima 61' Ryoto Nakamura 79' Pen: Harumichi Tatekawa 25'	Referee: Federico Anselmi

	17 March 2018	Brumbies	24–17	Sharks	GIO Stadium, Canberra
	19:45	Try: Lausii Taliauli 18' Henry Speight 47' Con: Wharenui Hawera 19' Pen: Wharenui Hawera 7', 62', 65', 72' Cards: Lachlan McCaffrey 36' to 46' Allan Alaalatoa 53' to 63'	Report^[8] Scoreboard^[9]	Try: Thomas du Toit 57' Curwin Bosch 77' Con: Robert du Preez 58', 78' Pen: Robert du Preez 31'	Referee: Glen Jackson

	23 March 2018	Rebels	46–14	Sharks	AAMI Park, Melbourne
	19:45	Try: Anaru Rangi 11' Amanaki Mafi 38' Will Genia 56' Bill Meakes 64' Ross Haylett-Petty 68' Fereti Sa'aga 80' Con: Reece Hodge 12' Jack Debreczeni 57', 64', 69', 80' Pen: Reece Hodge 2' Jack Debreczeni 45' Cards: Jack Maddocks 72'	Report^[10] Scoreboard^[11]	Try: Lwazi Mvovo 28' Marius Louw 78' Con: Robert du Preez 30' Curwin Bosch 78' Cards: Curwin Bosch 18' to 28'	Referee: Shuhei Kubo

	31 March 2018	Blues	40–63	Sharks	Eden Park, Auckland
	19:35	Try: Michael Collins 22' Akira Ioane 45' Patrick Tuipulotu 51' Stephen Perofeta 53' Rieko Ioane 75' George Moala 80' Con: Stephen Perofeta 23', 46', 52', 53' Bryn Gatland 76' Cards: Jordan Trainor 65' to 75'	Report^[12] Scoreboard^[13]	Try: Ruan Botha 11' Jean-Luc du Preez 34' Tera Mtembu 57' Robert du Preez 60' Kobus van Wyk 72' Curwin Bosch 80' Con: Robert du Preez 11', 34', 58', 61', 72', 80' Pen: Robert du Preez 4', 16', 26', 39', 64', 70', 78' Cards: S'busiso Nkosi 44' to 54'	Referee: Nick Briant

	6 April 2018	Hurricanes	38–37	Sharks	McLean Park, Napier
	19:35	Try: Jordie Barrett 8' Ngani Laumape 16', 80' Vince Aso 31' Con: Ihaia West 18', 32', 80' Pen: Ihaia West 45', 51', 72', 78'	Scoreboard^[14]	Try: Lukhanyo Am 21', 36' Louis Schreuder 25' Tyler Paul 73' Con: Robert du Preez 22', 26', 37', 75' Pen: Robert du Preez 5', 34', 55' Cards: Franco Marais 80'	Referee: Nic Berry

	14 April 2018	Sharks	10–40	Bulls	Kings Park Stadium, Durban
	17:15	Try: André Esterhuizen 39' Con: Robert du Preez 40' Pen: Robert du Preez 3' Cards: Thomas du Toit 48' to 58'	Report^[15] Scoreboard^[16]	Try: Warrick Gelant 5', 8', 78' Adriaan Strauss 25' penalty try 47' Johnny Kôtze 80' Con: Handré Pollard 6', 10', 26' Manie Libbok 79'	Referee: Egon Seconds

	21 April 2018	Sharks	24–17	Stormers	Kings Park Stadium, Durban
	17:15	Try: Lukhanyo Am 42' Jean-Luc du Preez 64' Thomas du Toit 73' Con: Robert du Preez 43', 65', 74' Pen: Robert du Preez 19'	Report^[17] Scoreboard^[18]	Try: Raymond Rhule 39' Ramone Samuels 52' Con: Damian Willemse 40', 53' Pen: Damian Willemse 50' Cards: Dewaldt Duvenage 59' to 69'	Referee: Glen Jackson

	5 May 2018	Sharks	38–12	Highlanders	Kings Park Stadium, Durban
	17:15	Try: Akker van der Merwe 1' Makazole Mapimpi 7' Dan du Preez 45' S'busiso Nkosi 62' Robert du Preez 68' Con: Robert du Preez 2', 9', 46', 63', 68' Pen: Robert du Preez 33'	Report^[19] Scoreboard^[20]	Try: Dillon Hunt 27' Teihorangi Walden 74' Con: Lima Sopoaga 29'	Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen

	12 May 2018	Bulls	39–33	Sharks	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
	17:15	Try: Warrick Gelant 11' Jesse Kriel 15' Roelof Smit 27' Johnny Kôtze 54' Lood de Jager 65' Con: Handré Pollard 16', 27', 55', 67' Pen: Handré Pollard 38', 69' Cards: RG Snyman 34' to 44'	Report^[21] Scoreboard^[22]	Try: Curwin Bosch 23' Jacques Vermeulen 34' Jean-Luc du Preez 70' Con: Robert du Preez 23', 35', 71' Pen: Curwin Bosch 40' Robert du Preez 46', 52', 80' Cards: Curwin Bosch 10' to 20' Lukhanyo Am 69' to 79'	Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge

	19 May 2018	Sharks	28–24	Chiefs	Kings Park Stadium, Durban
	15:05	Try: Robert du Preez 10' Lwazi Mvovo 42' Cameron Wright 58' Con: Robert du Preez 11', 58' Pen: Robert du Preez 5', 51', 67'	Report^[23] Scoreboard^[24]	Try: Tyler Ardron 18' Charlie Ngatai 47' Solomon Alaimalo 80' Con: Marty McKenzie 19', 48', 80' Pen: Marty McKenzie 37'	Referee: Mike Fraser

	25 May 2018	Jaguares	29–13	Sharks	José Amalfitani Stadium, Buenos Aires
	16:40	Try: Ramiro Moyano 29', 32', 80' Bautista Delguy 71' Con: Nicolás Sánchez 30', 34', 72' Pen: Nicolás Sánchez 13'	Report^[25] Scoreboard^[26]	Try: Ruan Botha 40' Con: Robert du Preez 40' Pen: Robert du Preez 50', 54' Cards: Ruan Botha 74'	Referee: Paul Williams

	30 June 2018	Sharks	31–24	Lions	Kings Park Stadium, Durban
	17:15	Try: Dan du Preez 3' André Esterhuizen 59' Lwazi Mvovo 68' Con: Robert du Preez 59', 70' Pen: Robert du Preez 13', 39', 63', 73'	Report^[27] Scoreboard^[28]	Try: Ruan Combrinck 8' Cyle Brink 17' Kwagga Smith 40' Con: Elton Jantjies 9', 18', 40' Pen: Elton Jantjies 65'	Referee: Jaco Peyper

	7 July 2018	Stormers	27–16	Sharks	DHL Newlands, Cape Town
	17:15	Try: Cobus Wiese 7' EW Viljoen 30' Raymond Rhule 37' Con: Joshua Stander 7', 31', 38' Pen: Joshua Stander 66', 79'	Report^[29] Scoreboard^[30]	Try: Kobus van Wyk 43' Con: Robert du Preez 44' Pen: Robert du Preez 5', 10', 19'	Referee: Jaco Peyper

	14 July 2018	Sharks	20–10	Jaguares	Kings Park Stadium, Durban
	17:15	Try: Akker van der Merwe 22' Kobus van Wyk 53' Con: Robert du Preez 23', 53' Pen: Robert du Preez 9', 16' Cards: Dan du Preez 19' to 29'	Report^[31] Scoreboard^[32]	Try: Sebastián Cancelliere 66' Con: Joaquín Díaz Bonilla 67' Pen: Joaquín Díaz Bonilla 20'	Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge

Qualifier	21 July 2018	Crusaders	40–10	Sharks	AMI Stadium, Christchurch
	19:35	Try: Bryn Hall 9' David Havili 12' Matt Todd 42' Braydon Ennor 67' Pete Samu 72' Con: Richie Mo'unga 43', 68', 73' Pen: Richie Mo'unga 7', 40', 57'	Report^[33] Scoreboard^[34]	Try: Kobus van Wyk 26' Con: Robert du Preez 27' Pen: Robert du Preez 48'	Referee: Mike Fraser

2018 Sharks player statistics
Player name	LIO	WAR	SUN	BRU	REB	BLU	HUR	BUL	STO	HIG	BUL	CHI	JAG	LIO	STO	JAG	CRU	SF	F	App	Try	Con	Pen	DG	Pts
Juan Schoeman	1	17	17	1	17	17	17	1	1	17	17	17	17	17	1	17	17	—	—	17	0	0	0	0	0
Franco Marais	2	2			16	16	16			16		16	16					—	—	8	0	0	0	0	0
Thomas du Toit	3	3		3	3	3	3	3	3	3	3	3	3	3	3	3	3	—	—	16	2	0	0	0	10
Ruan Botha	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	—	—	17	2	0	0	0	10
Stephan Lewies	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5		19	19	19	19					—	—	12	0	0	0	0	0
Philip van der Walt	6					6	6	6	6	6		6	6	6	6	6	6	—	—	12	0	0	0	0	0
Jacques Vermeulen	7	6	7	7	6				20	20	6	20	20	20	7	7	7	—	—	14	2	0	0	0	10
Dan du Preez	8							20	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	—	—	11	2	0	0	0	10
Cameron Wright	9	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	9	9	9	21	21	9	21	21	21	—	—	17	2	0	0	0	10
Robert du Preez	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	—	—	17	5	44	34	0	215
Makazole Mapimpi	11		11	11					11	11	11	23	23	11		23	23	—	—	10	4	0	0	0	20
André Esterhuizen	12	12	12	12		12	12	12	12	12	12	12	12	12	12	12	12	—	—	16	2	0	0	0	10
Lukhanyo Am	13	13	13	13	13	13	13	13	13	13	13	13	13	13	13	13	13	—	—	17	5	0	0	0	25
S'busiso Nkosi	14	11	14		14	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	14		14			—	—	13	3	0	0	0	15
Lwazi Mvovo	15	15	23	23	11	11	11	11	23	23	23	11	11	14	11	11	11	—	—	17	3	0	0	0	15
Akker van der Merwe	16	16	2	2	2			16	16	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	—	—	15	3	0	0	0	15
Tendai Mtawarira	17	1	1		1	1	1			1	1	1	1	1	17	1	1	—	—	14	0	0	0	0	0
John-Hubert Meyer	18	18	3	18	18	18	18	18							18	18	18	—	—	11	0	0	0	0	0
Hyron Andrews	19	19			19	19	19		19					19	19	19	19	—	—	10	0	0	0	0	0
Tyler Paul	20	7		19		20	20	19	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	—	—	15	1	0	0	0	5
Grant Williams	21																	—	—	1	0	0	0	0	0
Curwin Bosch	22	23	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	—	—	17	3	2	1	0	22
Kobus van Wyk	23	14		14	22	23	23	23						23	23	14	14	—	—	11	4	0	0	0	20
Keegan Daniel		8	20															—	—	2	0	0	0	0	0
Louis Schreuder		9	9	9	9	9	9	9	21	21	21	9	9	21	9	9	9	—	—	16	1	0	0	0	5
Tera Mtembu		20	8	8	8	8	8	8										—	—	7	2	0	0	0	10
Marius Louw		22	22	22	12	22	22	22	22	22	22	22	22	22	22	22	22	—	—	16	1	0	0	0	5
Wian Vosloo			6	6	20						20				20	20	20	—	—	6	0	0	0	0	0
Chiliboy Ralepelle			16	16		2	2	2	2		16			16	16	16	16	—	—	11	0	0	0	0	0
Ross Geldenhuys			18						18	18	18	18	18	18				—	—	5	0	0	0	0	0
Gideon Koegelenberg			19															—	—	1	0	0	0	0	0
Mzamo Majola				17				17	17									—	—	1	0	0	0	0	0
Jean-Luc du Preez				20	7	7	7	7	7	7	7	7	7	7				—	—	11	3	0	0	0	15
Garth April					23													—	—	1	0	0	0	0	0
penalty try																						–	0	–	–	–	0
Total																				17	50	46	35	0	447