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2025–26 Sharks (rugby union) season

The Sharks
Full nameThe Sharks
UnionSouth African Rugby Union
EmblemShark
Founded1890 (Natal Rugby Union)
1995 (Sharks franchise)
LocationDurban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
RegionKwaZulu-Natal
GroundHollywoodbets Kings Park Stadium (Capacity: 54,000)
CEOEduard Coetzee
Director of RugbyNeil Powell
CoachJohn Plumtree
CaptainLukhanyo Am
LeagueUnited Rugby Championship
1st kit
2nd kit
Official website
sharksrugby.co.za

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 11 9 0 2 310 155 +155 44 21 7 1 44 Qualifies for home URC quarter-final;
Qualification for the 2026–27 Champions Cup
2 Leinster 11 8 0 3 301 234 +67 44 31 7 1 40
3 Stormers 10 8 0 2 274 161 +113 34 20 4 0 36
4 Ulster 10 7 0 3 302 208 +94 42 28 6 2 36
5 Cardiff 11 7 0 4 232 203 +29 34 28 5 3 36 Qualifies for URC quarter-final;
Qualification for the 2026–27 Champions Cup
6 Munster 11 7 0 4 227 218 +9 33 29 5 2 35
7 Lions 11 5 1 5 301 332 −31 40 49 5 2 29
8 Bulls 10 5 0 5 263 258 +5 38 37 4 1 25
9 Ospreys 11 4 2 5 239 263 −24 36 40 4 1 25 Qualification for the 2026–27 Challenge Cup
10 Sharks 11 4 1 6 244 292 −48 36 36 5 1 24
11 Benetton 11 4 1 6 201 266 −65 22 36 2 1 21
12 Connacht 10 3 0 7 243 269 −26 32 37 5 4 21
13 Edinburgh 10 3 0 7 195 194 +1 30 30 2 4 18
14 Dragons 11 2 2 7 212 271 −59 27 40 2 4 18
15 Scarlets 10 3 1 6 173 239 −66 22 32 0 1 15
16 Zebre Parma 11 2 0 9 190 344 −154 25 48 2 2 12
Updated to match(es) played on 21 February 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]


26 September 2025 (1 BP) Glasgow Warriors Scotland 35 – 19 South Africa 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 yellow card 77' to F.T.'
Mazibujo yellow card 79' to F.T.' 		Attendance: 6 775
Referee: Keith David
3 October 2025 Dragons Wales 17 – 17 South Africa 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 Yellow card 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 Ireland 31 – 5 South Africa 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 Yellow card 74' 		Report Try: Hooker(30')
 Attendance: 17,549
18 October 2025 (1 BP) Sharks South Africa 26 – 34 Ireland 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 Yellow card 61' 		Report Try: Lowry (6')
Werner Kok (21')
Stewart (56')
Reid (66')
Con: Doak (7', 21', 57', 68')
Pen: Doak (16', 37')
Cards: Mapimpi Red card
Koch Yellow card 51' 		Referee: Ben Whitehouse
25 October 2025 (1 PT) Sharks South Africa 29 – 19 Wales 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 Yellow card 72' 		Attendance: 9,528[4]
Referee: Sam Grove-White Scotland
29 November 2025 (1 BP) Connacht Ireland 44 – 17 South Africa 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 yellow card 28' to 38' 		Attendance: 3,928
Referee: Ben Whitehouse Wales
20 December 2025 Sharks South Africa 21 – 12 South Africa 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 Yellow card 29' 		Attendance: 44,517
Referee: Griffin Colby (South Africa)
TBC South Africa Lions v South Africa Sharks Emirates Airline Park  
TBC
3 January 2026 (2 BP) Sharks South Africa 22 – 23 South Africa 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 Yellow card 39' 		Attendance: 20,622
Referee: Christopher Allison
24 January 2026 Stormers South Africa 19 – 30 South Africa 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 Yellow card 47'
Sandi Yellow card 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 Yellow card 78' 		Attendance: 52,087
Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (RSA)
31 January 2026 (1 BP) Sharks South Africa 36 – 24 South Africa 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 Yellow card 9'
van Heerden Yellow card 49' 		Attendance: 25,364
Referee: Christopher Allison
Sat, Feb 28 South Africa Bulls v South Africa Sharks Loftus Versfeld Stadium  
15:00
Sat, Mar 21 South Africa Sharks v Ireland Munster s Kings Park  
15:00
Fri, Mar 27 South Africa Sharks v Wales Cardiff s Kings Park  
17:00
Sat, Apr 18 Wales Ospreys v South Africa Sharks TBC  
19:45
Fri, Apr 24 Scotland Edinburgh v South Africa Sharks Hive Stadium  
19:45
Sat, May 9 South Africa Sharks v Italy Benneton Treviso s Kings Park  
15:00
Sat, May 16 South Africa Sharks v Italy Zebre Parma s Kings Park  
12:45

URC South African shield

2025–26 United Rugby Championship Regional Shield tables
South Africa South African Shield
Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TBP LBP Pts Pos overall
1 South Africa Sharks 5 3 0 2 131 112 +19 19 12 3 1 16 10
2 South Africa Lions 5 3 0 2 144 163 –19 18 24 2 1 15 7
3 South Africa Stormers 4 2 0 2 90 101 -11 11 13 1 0 9 3
4 South Africa Bulls 4 1 0 3 105 94 +11 14 13 2 1 7 8
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:[5]
  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
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

European Rugby Champions Cup Pool 1
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts Qualification
1 Scotland Glasgow Warriors (2) 4 4 0 0 115 66 +49 17 9 4 0 20 Home Champions Cup round of 16.
2 France Toulouse (8) 4 2 0 2 168 74 +94 24 11 2 2 12
3 England Sale Sharks (11) 4 2 0 2 89 127 −38 13 18 2 1 11 Away Champions Cup round of 16.
4 England Saracens (13) 4 2 0 2 93 70 +23 13 14 1 1 10
5 South Africa Sharks (9CC) 4 2 0 2 107 117 −10 16 17 2 0 10 Away Challenge Cup round of 16.
6 France 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.
7 December 2025 (1 BP) Toulouse France 56–19 South Africa 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 South Africa 28–23 England 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 Yellow card 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 Yellow card 58' 		Attendance: 10,506
Referee: Luc Ramos (France)
10 January 2026 (1 BP) Sale Sharks England 26–10 South Africa 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 South Africa 50–12 France 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 Red card 7'
Frisach Yellow card 44'
Zamora Yellow card 62' 		Attendance: 8,292
Referee: Christophe Ridley (England)

EPRC Challenge Cup

Knockout stage
Round of 16
3 April 2026
20:00
Connacht Ireland (8)v(9) South Africa Sharks
Dexcom Stadium, Galway

References

  1. ^ "Competition rules – United Rugby Championship". United Rugby Championship. Archived from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
  2. ^ James, Ben. "Dragons 17-17 Sharks report". Wales Online. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
  3. ^ "Dragons draw after dramatic finale". Dragons RFC. 3 October 2025. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
  4. ^ "Battling Scarlets defeated in Durban". Scarlets Rugby. 2025-10-25. Retrieved 2025-10-26.
  5. ^ League Format (3) "Competition Rules". United Rugby Championship. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  6. ^ "Pool Tables | Investec Champions Cup". www.epcrugby.com. European Professional Club Rugby. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
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