By Daniel Nhakaniso
Zimbabwe rugby international Tino Mavesere has been named in the Sharks’ 27-man squad for the Vodacom United Rugby Championship, which begins for the South African teams this weekend.
The 25-year-old flank celebrated his second major trophy with the Durban outfit at the weekend after they clinched the Currie Cup title with a nail-biting victory against the Lions at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Saturday.
Mavesere was also part of the Sharks’ squad which last year became the first South African team to ever win a European trophy, by defeating Gloucester Rugby in the final of the 2023–24 EPCR Challenge Cup at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
He will now be hoping to play another important role for the inform South African giants as they seek yet another silverware in the United Rugby Championship.
The Durban side begin their tournament in Ireland on Saturday when they take on Connacht before heading east to Wales to play the Dragons and then Italy for a clash with Benetton that concludes their early overseas commitments.
The Sharks squad for their three-match tour to Europe includes 15 forwards and 12 and will be captained by loose-forward Vincent Tshituka.
Mavesere and his teammates left South Africa for Ireland on Monday with head coach John Plumtree expressing his delight at his team’s victory last weekend.
“I’m just really proud of the boys,” head coach John Plumtree admits.
“Winning right at the end of the game is one of the moments that gives us confidence. The never-give-up attitude is something we’re trying to instil in the boys so I’m really proud of them for the way they never gave up, even when it looked like the Lions had done enough to win.”
He added that winning two trophies in short space is good for the group’s confidence.
“To have come to Joburg for the final, lost and then hop on a plan for Ireland wouldn’t have been great, fortunately that’s not the case. So, we will all cherish the memory, everyone who had a hand in getting us to the end.
“We’ve found belief but it’s going to be tough emotionally and physically getting off this high.
“The other job for me now is getting the players back down to earth because we know what a tough game we have in Galway.
“Connacht will be waiting for us, they’ll be excited about playing at home.”
SHARKS TOURING SQUAD
FORWARDS
Corne’ Rahl
Dylan Richardson
Emmanuel Tshituka
Ethan Bester
Fez Mbatha
Gerbrandt Grobler
Hanro Jacobs
James Venter
Jason Jenkins
Mawande Mdande
Ntuthuko Mchunu
Ruan Dreyer
Tino Mavesere
Trevor Nyakane
Vincent Tshituka (c)
BACKS
Andre Esterhuizen
Bradley Davids
Cameron Wright
Eduan Keyter
Ethan Hooker
Francois Venter
Gershwin Wehr
Jordan Hendrikse
Jurenzo Julius
Lionel Cronje
Siya Masuku
Tian Meyer