2025–26 Sharks (rugby union) season
| Full name | The Sharks | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Union | South African Rugby Union | ||
| Emblem | Shark | ||
| Founded | 1890 (Natal Rugby Union) 1995 (Sharks franchise) | ||
| Location | Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | ||
| Region | KwaZulu-Natal | ||
| Ground | Hollywoodbets Kings Park Stadium (Capacity: 54,000) | ||
| CEO | Eduard Coetzee | ||
| Director of Rugby | Neil Powell | ||
| Coach | John Plumtree | ||
| Captain | Lukhanyo Am | ||
| League | United Rugby Championship | ||
| |||
| Official website | |||
| sharksrugby | |||
The 2025–26 season is the Sharks's fifth season in the United Rugby Championship, their 32nd season of professional rugby and their 138th sseaon of representative rugby since their foundation as the Natal Rugby Union. Along with competing in the URC and its South African Shield competition (the latter of which they enter as champions), the club will also participate in the 2025-26 European Rugby Champions Cup.
United Rugby Championship
Main table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Glasgow Warriors | 12 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 320 | 170 | +150 | 47 | 23 | 7 | 2 | 45 | Qualifies for home URC quarter-final; Qualification for the 2026–27 Champions Cup |
| 2 | Stormers | 12 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 316 | 204 | +112 | 39 | 26 | 5 | 0 | 41 | |
| 3 | Ulster | 12 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 352 | 248 | +104 | 49 | 34 | 7 | 2 | 41 | |
| 4 | Leinster | 12 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 308 | 242 | +66 | 45 | 32 | 8 | 1 | 41 | |
| 5 | Cardiff | 12 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 240 | 210 | +30 | 35 | 29 | 5 | 3 | 40 | Qualifies for URC quarter-final; Qualification for the 2026–27 Champions Cup |
| 6 | Munster | 12 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 248 | 225 | +23 | 36 | 30 | 5 | 2 | 39 | |
| 7 | Lions | 12 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 325 | 342 | −17 | 43 | 50 | 5 | 2 | 33 | |
| 8 | Bulls | 12 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 323 | 302 | +21 | 48 | 43 | 5 | 1 | 30 | |
| 9 | Connacht | 12 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 289 | 293 | −4 | 39 | 41 | 6 | 4 | 30 | Qualification for the 2026–27 Challenge Cup |
| 10 | Ospreys | 12 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 260 | 273 | −13 | 39 | 41 | 4 | 1 | 29 | |
| 11 | Sharks | 12 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 256 | 333 | −77 | 38 | 43 | 5 | 1 | 24 | |
| 12 | Edinburgh | 12 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 238 | 253 | −15 | 37 | 39 | 3 | 4 | 23 | |
| 13 | Benetton | 12 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 216 | 281 | −65 | 25 | 37 | 2 | 1 | 23 | |
| 14 | Dragons | 12 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 227 | 286 | −59 | 29 | 43 | 2 | 4 | 20 | |
| 15 | Scarlets | 12 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 206 | 294 | −88 | 28 | 41 | 0 | 2 | 16 | |
| 16 | Zebre Parma | 12 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 197 | 365 | −168 | 26 | 51 | 2 | 2 | 12 |
Updated to match(es) played on 14 March 2026. Source: UnitedRugby.com
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers for teams tied on points: 1) Number of matches won 2) The difference between points for and points against 3) The number of tries scored 4) The most points scored 5) The difference between tries for and tries against 6) The fewest red cards received 7) The fewest yellow cards received.[1]
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers for teams tied on points: 1) Number of matches won 2) The difference between points for and points against 3) The number of tries scored 4) The most points scored 5) The difference between tries for and tries against 6) The fewest red cards received 7) The fewest yellow cards received.[1]
| 26 September 2025 | (1 BP) Glasgow Warriors | 35 – 19 | Sharks | Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow | |
| 20:05 | Try: Rowe (14') McDowall (32') Darge (49') Dobie (70') penalty try (78') Con: Horne(15', 33', 51', 71') |
Report, 2 | Try: E v.d.Merwe (9') Tshituka (40') Am (66') Con: Hendrikse (41', 67') Cards: Mavesere 77' to F.T.' Mazibujo 79' to F.T.' |
Attendance: 6 775 Referee: Keith David |
| 3 October 2025 | Dragons | 17 – 17 | Sharks | Rodney Parade, Newport | |
| 20:05 | Try: Wainwright 15' O'Brien 26' Con: de Beer (2/2) 16', 27' Pen: de Beer (1/1) 66' Cards: Coleman 73' |
Report[2] | Try: Orie 8' Tshituka 38' Con: Smith (2/2) 9', 39' Pen: Smith (1/1) 19' |
Attendance: 4 889 [3] Referee: Filippo Russo |
| 11 October 2025 | (1 BP) Leinster | 31 – 5 | Sharks | Aviva Stadium, Dublin | |
| 17:30 | Try: Jamie Osborne (12') Jimmy O'Brien (23') v.d. Flier (27') Deegan (49') Gus McCarthy (71') Con: Harry Byrne(13', 23', 28') Cards: Boyle 74' |
Report | Try: Hooker(30') |
Attendance: 17,549 |
| 18 October 2025 | (1 BP) Sharks | 26 – 34 | Ulster (1 BP) | Kings Park Stadium, Durban | |
| 15:00 | Try: Siya Kolisi(33') Makazole Mapimpi(49') Andre Esterhuizen(71') penalty try Con: Siya Masuku (50') Jordan Hendrikse (72') Cards: O'Toole 61' |
Report | Try: Lowry (6') Werner Kok (21') Stewart (56') Reid (66') Con: Doak (7', 21', 57', 68') Pen: Doak (16', 37') Cards: Mapimpi Koch 51' |
Referee: Ben Whitehouse |
| 25 October 2025 | (1 PT) Sharks | 29 – 19 | Scarlets | Kings Park Stadium, Durban | |
| 15:00 | Try: V Tshituka (5'm) E Tshituka (19'c) Mazibuko (28'c) Kolisi (49'c) Con: Jean Smith (20', 29', 50') Pen: Jean Smith (64') |
Report | Try: v.d. Merwe (16'c) Murray (21'c) Rogers (45') Con: Costelow (17', 22') Cards: Plumtree 72' |
Attendance: 9,528[4] Referee: Sam Grove-White |
| 29 November 2025 | (1 BP) Connacht | 44 – 17 | Sharks | The Sportsground, Galway | |
| 19:45 | Try: Boyle (17' c) Mullins (31' c) Gavin (58' c) Devine (72' c) Illo (79' c) Con: Naughton (19', 32', 58', 73', 80') Pen: Naughton (8', 27', 42') |
Report | Try: Mbatha (15' m) Mapimpi (66' m) van Heerden (75' c) Con: Jordan Hendrikse (75') Cards: Jenkins 28' to 38' |
Attendance: 3,928 Referee: Ben Whitehouse |
| 20 December 2025 | Sharks | 21 – 12 | Bulls | Kings Park Stadium, Durban | |
| 16:00 | Try: Kunene 15' c Kolisi 71' c v.d.Merwe 77' c Con: Hendrikse 16' Whitehead (2) 72', 78' |
Report | Pen: Pollard (4) 19', 24', 38', 57' Cards: Kriel 29' |
Attendance: 44,517 Referee: Griffin Colby (South Africa) |
| TBC | Lions | v | Sharks | Emirates Airline Park | |
| TBC |
| 3 January 2026 | (2 BP) Sharks | 22 – 23 | Lions | Kings Park Stadium, Durban | |
| 13:30 | Try: E. Tshituka 15' m Kolisi 25' c Jenkins 39' m van der Merwe 58' m Con: Jo. Hendrikse (1/4) 26' |
Try: Oosthuizen 7' c F. Horn 10' m Pead 80+1' m Con: Smith (1/3) 8' Pen: Smith (2/2) 4', 32' Cards: Venter 39' |
Attendance: 20,622 Referee: Christopher Allison |
| 24 January 2026 | Stormers | 19 – 30 | Sharks (1 BP) | Cape Town Stadium | |
| 17:30 | Try: Weillemse (2) 7' m, 27' c penalty try 78' Con: Feinberg-Mngomezulu (1/2) 37' Cards: Moerat 47' Sandi 71'' |
Report | Try: Jenkins 5' c Williams 12' c Buthelezi 47' m Esterhuizen 73' m Con: Hendrikse (2/4) 6', 13; Pen: Hendrikse (2) 17', 68' Cards: Tshituka 78' |
Attendance: 52,087 Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (RSA) |
| 31 January 2026 | (1 BP) Sharks | 36 – 24 | Stormers | Kings Park Stadium, Durban | |
| 15:00 | Try: Williams 12' c Hooker 25' c Esterhuizen 48' c Williams 53' c, 72'm Con: Hendrikse (4/5) 13', 26', 49', 53' Pen: Hendrikse 69' |
Report | Try: Reinach 1' m de Villiers 43' c Con: Feinberg-Mngomezulu (1/2) 44' Pen: Feinberg-Mngomezulu (4) 16', 20', 39', 40+3' Cards: de Villiers 9' van Heerden 49' |
Attendance: 25,364 Referee: Christopher Allison |
| Sat, Feb 28 | Bulls | v | Sharks | Loftus Versfeld Stadium | |
| 15:00 |
| Sat, Mar 21 | Sharks | v | Munster | s Kings Park | |
| 15:00 |
| Fri, Mar 27 | Sharks | v | Cardiff | s Kings Park | |
| 17:00 |
| Sat, Apr 18 | Ospreys | v | Sharks | TBC | |
| 19:45 |
| Fri, Apr 24 | Edinburgh | v | Sharks | Hive Stadium | |
| 19:45 |
| Sat, May 9 | Sharks | v | Benneton Treviso | s Kings Park | |
| 15:00 |
| Sat, May 16 | Sharks | v | Zebre Parma | s Kings Park | |
| 12:45 |
URC South African shield
| |||||||||||||||||
| South African Shield | |||||||||||||||||
| Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TBP | LBP | Pts | Pos overall | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lions (S) | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 168 | 173 | –5 | 21 | 25 | 2 | 1 | 19 | 7 | |||
| 2 | Sharks | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 143 | 153 | –10 | 21 | 19 | 3 | 1 | 16 | 11 | |||
| 3 | Bulls | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 146 | 106 | +40 | 21 | 15 | 3 | 1 | 12 | 8 | |||
| 4 | Stormers | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 100 | 125 | –25 | 12 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 5 | |||
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:[5]
| |||||||||||||||||
| Green background indicates teams currently leading the regional shield. Upon the conclusion of the regular season, these teams win their respective regional shields. (S) : URC Shield champion | |||||||||||||||||
European Rugby Champions Cup
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Glasgow Warriors (2) | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 115 | 66 | +49 | 17 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 20 | Home Champions Cup round of 16. |
| 2 | Toulouse (8) | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 168 | 74 | +94 | 24 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 12 | |
| 3 | Sale Sharks (11) | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 89 | 127 | −38 | 13 | 18 | 2 | 1 | 11 | Away Champions Cup round of 16. |
| 4 | Saracens (13) | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 93 | 70 | +23 | 13 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 10 | |
| 5 | Sharks (9CC) | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 107 | 117 | −10 | 16 | 17 | 2 | 0 | 10 | Away Challenge Cup round of 16. |
| 6 | Clermont | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 57 | 165 | −108 | 9 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Source: EPCR[6]
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers for teams tied on points: 1) Number of matches won; 2) Difference between points for and against; 3) Total number of points for; 4) Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams; 5) Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled.
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers for teams tied on points: 1) Number of matches won; 2) Difference between points for and against; 3) Total number of points for; 4) Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams; 5) Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled.
| 7 December 2025 | (1 BP) Toulouse | 56–19 | Sharks | Stade Ernest-Wallon, Toulouse | |
| 16:15 | Try: Capuozzo (3) 4' c, 63' c, 71' c Marchand (2) 14' c, 21' c Gourgues 24' c Castro-Ferreira (67' c) Thomas 80' c Con: Ramos (8/8) 5', 15', 22', 25', 64', 68', 72', 82' |
Report | Try: Hatton 26' m Braude 49' c Malan 77' c Con: Hendrikse (1/2) 50' J. Smith (1/1) 78' |
Attendance: 18,800 Referee: Christophe Ridley (England) |
| 13 December 2025 | (1 BP) Sharks | 28–23 | Saracens (1 BP) | Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban | |
| 16:15 | Try: Kolisi 4' c Fassi 37' c van der Merwe 43' c Williams 59' c Con: Whitehead (4/4) 5', 38', 44', 60' Cards: Hatton 80+2' |
Report | Try: Dan 15' m Spink 26' c Willis 65' m Con: Burke (1/3) 27' Pen: Burke (2/2) 32', 55' Cards: Dan 58' |
Attendance: 10,506 Referee: Luc Ramos (France) |
| 10 January 2026 | (1 BP) Sale Sharks | 26–10 | Sharks | Salford Community Stadium, Manchester | |
| 17:30 | Try: Ma'asi-White 12' c Rodd 49' c O'Flaherty (2) 55' m, 61' c Con: Ford (3/4) 12', 50', 62' |
Report | Try: Tshituka 59' c Con: Masuku (1/1) 60' Pen: Masuku (1/2) 8' |
Attendance: 7,349 Referee: Ben Breakspear (Wales) |
| 17 January 2026 | (1 BP) Sharks | 50–12 | Clermont | Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban | |
| 14:00 | Try: Fassi (2) 1' c, 64' c JA. Hendrikse 16' c Koch 44' c Sobahle 49' c Masuku 72' m Buthelezi 79' m Julius 80' m Con: JO. Hendrikse (4/4) 2', 17', 45', 50' Masuku (1/4) 64' |
Report | Try: Jurand 11' m Hamdaoui 32' c Con: Zamora (1/2) 33' Cards: Fall 7' Frisach 44' Zamora 62' |
Attendance: 8,292 Referee: Christophe Ridley (England) |
EPRC Challenge Cup
- Knockout stage
- Round of 16
References
- ^ "Competition rules – United Rugby Championship". United Rugby Championship. Archived from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
- ^ James, Ben. "Dragons 17-17 Sharks report". Wales Online. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
- ^ "Dragons draw after dramatic finale". Dragons RFC. 3 October 2025. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
- ^ "Battling Scarlets defeated in Durban". Scarlets Rugby. 2025-10-25. Retrieved 2025-10-26.
- ^ League Format (3) "Competition Rules". United Rugby Championship. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
- ^ "Pool Tables | Investec Champions Cup". www.epcrugby.com. European Professional Club Rugby. Retrieved 2 July 2024.