# 2024–25 Sharks (rugby union) season

The 2024–25 season is the Sharks's fourth season in the United Rugby Championship, their 31st season of professional rugby and their 137th 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 club will also participate in the 2024-25 European Rugby Challenge Cup.

## Senior squad

The Sharks squad for the 2024–25 United Rugby Championship is:
| Sharks United Rugby Championship squad |
| Props Ruan Dreyer Hanro Jacobs Vincent Koch Ntuthuko Mchunu Mawande Mdanda Khwezi Mona Ox Nché Trevor Nyakane Braam Reyneke Phatu Ganyane Hookers Ethan Bester Fez Mbatha Bongi Mbonambi Dylan Richardson Bryce Calvert Locks Thomas Dyer Eben Etzebeth Gerbrandt Grobler Jason Jenkins Corne Rahl Emile van Heerden Coetzee le Roux Meno Barnard | Loose forwards Siya Kolisi Phepsi Buthelezi Nick Hatton Jeandre Labuschagne Tinotenda Mavesere Emmanuel Tshituka Vincent Tshituka James Venter Jannes Potgieter Batho Hlekani Scrum-halves Bradley Davids Tiaan Fourie Jaden Hendrikse Grant Williams Fly-halves Jordan Hendrikse Siya Masuku Lionel Cronjé Jean Smith | Centres Lukhanyo Am Diego Appollis André Esterhuizen Ethan Hooker Jurenzo Julius Francois Venter Lilelihle Bester Wingers Eduan Keyter Makazole Mapimpi Yaw Penxe Marnus Potgieter Fullbacks Aphelele Fassi Hakeem Kunene |
| (c) Denotes team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped, $^{ST}$ denotes a short-term signing. |

## Results
### United Rugby Championship
#### Main table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Leinster | 12 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 360 | 166 | +194 | 52 | 24 | 9 | 0 | 57 | Play-offs & Berth in the 2024–25 Champions Cup |
| 2 | Glasgow Warriors | 12 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 353 | 225 | +128 | 53 | 29 | 8 | 4 | 44 | Play-offs & Berth in the 2024–25 Champions Cup |
| 3 | Bulls | 12 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 316 | 249 | +67 | 41 | 29 | 6 | 3 | 41 | Play-offs & Berth in the 2024–25 Champions Cup |
| 4 | Sharks | 12 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 313 | 309 | +4 | 40 | 43 | 5 | 2 | 39 | Play-offs & Berth in the 2024–25 Champions Cup |
| 5 | Munster | 12 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 287 | 294 | −7 | 46 | 41 | 8 | 1 | 33 | Play-offs & Berth in the 2024–25 Champions Cup |
| 6 | Cardiff | 12 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 263 | 321 | −58 | 41 | 44 | 7 | 2 | 31 | Play-offs & Berth in the 2024–25 Champions Cup |
| 7 | Edinburgh | 12 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 295 | 300 | −5 | 41 | 41 | 5 | 5 | 30 | Play-offs & Berth in the 2024–25 Champions Cup |
| 8 | Lions | 12 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 280 | 269 | +11 | 36 | 38 | 3 | 2 | 29 | Play-offs & Berth in the 2024–25 Champions Cup |
| 9 | Connacht | 12 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 277 | 296 | −19 | 42 | 38 | 6 | 3 | 29 | Berth in the 2024–25 Challenge Cup |
| 10 | Scarlets | 12 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 271 | 255 | +16 | 29 | 36 | 2 | 4 | 28 | Berth in the 2024–25 Challenge Cup |
| 11 | Ospreys | 12 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 258 | 258 | 0 | 34 | 33 | 3 | 3 | 28 | Berth in the 2024–25 Challenge Cup |
| 12 | Stormers | 12 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 272 | 293 | −21 | 34 | 37 | 5 | 3 | 28 | Berth in the 2024–25 Challenge Cup |
| 13 | Benetton | 12 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 251 | 317 | −66 | 31 | 44 | 5 | 1 | 28 | Berth in the 2024–25 Challenge Cup |
| 14 | Ulster | 12 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 269 | 294 | −25 | 39 | 42 | 3 | 4 | 27 | Berth in the 2024–25 Challenge Cup |
| 15 | Zebre Parma | 12 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 196 | 268 | −72 | 25 | 38 | 2 | 3 | 25 | Berth in the 2024–25 Challenge Cup |
| 16 | Dragons | 12 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 226 | 374 | −148 | 28 | 53 | 1 | 3 | 8 | Berth in the 2024–25 Challenge Cup |

#### South African shield

2024–25 United Rugby Championship Regional Shield Pools
view · watch · · discuss :
| South African Shield |||||||||||||||
| | Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TBP | LBP | Pts | Pos overall |
| 1 | Sharks (S) | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 129 | 135 | -6 | 17 | 20 | 2 | 1 | 19 | 4 |
| 2 | Stormers | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 142 | 130 | +12 | 19 | 15 | 3 | 3 | 18 | 12 |
| 3 | Bulls | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 151 | 141 | +10 | 19 | 17 | 3 | 2 | 17 | 3 |
| 4 | Lions | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 141 | 157 | -16 | 19 | 22 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 8 |
| If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order: number of matches won the difference between points for and points against the number of tries scored the most points scored the difference between tries for and tries against the fewest red cards received 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 competition
#### European Rugby Champions Cup

European Rugby Champions Cup Pool 1 :
| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Bordeaux (1) | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 217 | 76 | +141 | 33 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 20 | Home Champions Cup round of 16. |
| 2 | Toulouse (5) | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 225 | 62 | +163 | 33 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 19 | Home Champions Cup round of 16. |
| 3 | Leicester Tigers (10) | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 134 | 149 | −15 | 20 | 21 | 3 | 0 | 11 | Away Champions Cup round of 16. |
| 4 | Ulster (16) | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 102 | 163 | −61 | 15 | 24 | 1 | 0 | 5 | Away Champions Cup round of 16. |
| 5 | Sharks (12CC) | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 76 | 163 | −87 | 10 | 23 | 1 | 0 | 5 | Away Challenge Cup round of 16. |
| 6 | Exeter Chiefs | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 83 | 224 | −141 | 13 | 34 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |

### Round 1

* 7 December 2024 13:00
| (1 BP) Sharks | 39–21 | Exeter Chiefs |
| Try: Buthelezi 20' c Mapimpi 23' m Williams 26' c Kolisi (2) 35' c, 55' c Con: Jo. Hendrikse (4/5) 21', 27', 37', 57' Pen: Jo. Hendrikse (2/2) 45', 69' | Report | Try: Frost (2) 13' c, 40' c Feyi-Waboso 66' c Con: Hodge (3/4) 15', 40+1', 67' |
* Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban Attendance: 10,452 Referee: Jeremy Rozier (France)

### Round 2

* 14 December 2024 17:30
| (1 BP) Leicester Tigers | 56–17 | Sharks |
| Try: Montoya (2) 9' c, 24' c Hassell-Collins 27' c Kata 34' c Pollard 39' c Poortvliet 43' c Clare 71' c Ilione 80+2' c Con: Pollard (6/6) 10', 25', 28', 35', 40', 44' Shillcock (2/2) 72', 80+2' | Report | Try: E. Tshituka 20' c Hooker 60' c Con: Masuku (2/2) 21', 61' Pen: Masuku (1/1) 3' |
* Mattioli Woods Welford Road, Leicester Attendance: 17,168 Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)

### Round 3

* 11 January 2025 15:15
| Sharks | 8–20 | Toulouse |
| Try: Julius 66' m Pen: J.O. Hendrikse (1/1) 13' | Report | Try: Meafou 9' c Kinghorn 42' c Con: Ramos (2/2) 9', 43' Pen: Ramos (2/2) 35', 40+2' |
* Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban Attendance: 24,762 Referee: Luke Pearce (England)

### Round 4

* 19 January 2025 13:00
| (1 BP) Bordeaux Bègles | 66–12 | Sharks |
| Try: Penaud (6) 12' m, 17' c, 39' c, 66' c, 71' m, 75' c Lucu 43' c Boniface 49' c Moefana 53' c Nguimbous 78' c Con: Jalibert (8/10) 18', 40', 44', 50', 54', 67', 76', 79' | Report | Try: Masuku 3' c Kunene 7' m Con: Masuku (1/2) 4' |
* Stade Chaban-Delmas, Bordeaux Attendance: 32,135 Referee: Christophe Ridley (England)

#### European Rugby Challenge Cup

By finishing fifth in their Champions Cup pool, Sharks qualified for the Round of 18 in the European Rugby Challenge Cup. As 12th seed, they were drawn away to French side Lyon.

##### Round of 16
## Home attendance

As of 14 March 2025
| Domestic League | Domestic League | Domestic League | Domestic League | Domestic League | Domestic League | European Champions Cup | European Champions Cup | European Champions Cup | European Champions Cup | European Champions Cup | European Champions Cup | Total | Total |
| League | Fixtures | Total Attendance | Average Attendance | Highest | Lowest | League | Fixtures | Total Attendance | Average Attendance | Highest | Lowest | Total Attendance | Average Attendance |
| 2024–25 United Rugby Championship | 5 | 114,100 | 22,820 | 34,827 | 10,799 | 2024–25 European Rugby Champions Cup | 2 | 35,214 | 17,607 | 24,762 | 10,452 | 149,214 | 21,316 |