# 2019 Sharks (rugby union) season

In 2019, the Sharks participated in the 2019 Super Rugby competition, the 24th 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 6th place overall to qualify for the finals as a wildcard team. They lost in their quarterfinal match to the Brumbies.

## Personnel
### Coaches and management

The Sharks coaching and management staff for the 2019 Super Rugby season were:
| 2019 Sharks coaches and management |
| Name | Title |
| Robert du Preez | Head coach |
| Ricardo Loubscher | Backline coach |
| Jaco Pienaar | Forwards coach |
| Braam van Straaten | Defence coach |
| David Williams | Attack coach |

### Squad

The following players were named in the Sharks squad for the 2019 Super Rugby season:
| 2019 Sharks squad |
| Player | Position/s | Date of birth (age) | Super Rugby | Super Rugby | Sharks | Sharks |
| Player | Position/s | Date of birth (age) | Apps | Pts | Apps | Pts |
| Lukhanyo Am | Centre | (1993-11-28)28 November 1993 (aged 25) | 42 | 40 | 32 | 35 |
| Hyron Andrews | Lock | (1995-07-06)6 July 1995 (aged 23) | 20 | 0 | 20 | 0 |
| Curwin Bosch | Fly-half | (1997-06-25)25 June 1997 (aged 21) | 33 | 178 | 33 | 178 |
| Ruan Botha | Lock | (1992-01-10)10 January 1992 (aged 27) | 59 | 20 | 33 | 15 |
| Craig Burden | Hooker | (1985-05-13)13 May 1985 (aged 33) | 47 | 20 | 47 | 20 |
| Phepsi Buthelezi | Loose forward | (1999-05-30)30 May 1999 (aged 19) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cullen Collopy | Hooker | (1993-01-12)12 January 1993 (aged 26) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kwanda Dimaza | Loose forward | (1997-10-08)8 October 1997 (aged 21) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Muller du Plessis | Wing | (1999-06-25)25 June 1999 (aged 19) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dan du Preez | Loose forward | (1995-08-05)5 August 1995 (aged 23) | 37 | 35 | 37 | 35 |
| Jean-Luc du Preez | Loose forward | (1995-08-05)5 August 1995 (aged 23) | 38 | 30 | 38 | 30 |
| Robert du Preez | Fly-half | (1993-07-30)30 July 1993 (aged 25) | 31 | 322 | 17 | 215 |
| Thomas du Toit | Prop | (1995-05-05)5 May 1995 (aged 23) | 52 | 30 | 52 | 30 |
| André Esterhuizen | Centre | (1994-03-30)30 March 1994 (aged 24) | 56 | 25 | 56 | 25 |
| Andrew Evans | Lock | (1997-03-31)31 March 1997 (aged 21) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Aphelele Fassi | Fullback | (1998-01-23)23 January 1998 (aged 21) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gideon Koegelenberg | Lock | (1994-11-25)25 November 1994 (aged 24) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Marius Louw | Centre | (1995-10-24)24 October 1995 (aged 23) | 17 | 5 | 17 | 5 |
| Mzamo Majola | Prop | (1995-02-20)20 February 1995 (aged 23) | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Makazole Mapimpi | Wing | (1990-07-26)26 July 1990 (aged 28) | 24 | 75 | 10 | 20 |
| Fez Mbatha | Hooker | (1999-08-02)2 August 1999 (aged 19) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Khutha Mchunu | Prop | (1997-07-01)1 July 1997 (aged 21) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| John-Hubert Meyer | Prop | (1993-09-19)19 September 1993 (aged 25) | 13 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| Zee Mkhabela | Scrum-half | (1994-10-15)15 October 1994 (aged 24) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tendai Mtawarira | Prop | (1985-08-01)1 August 1985 (aged 33) | 150 | 25 | 150 | 25 |
| Tera Mtembu | Loose forward | (1990-12-09)9 December 1990 (aged 28) | 47 | 25 | 47 | 25 |
| Lwazi Mvovo | Wing | (1986-06-03)3 June 1986 (aged 32) | 129 | 185 | 129 | 185 |
| S'busiso Nkosi | Wing | (1996-01-21)21 January 1996 (aged 23) | 20 | 30 | 20 | 30 |
| Sanele Nohamba | Scrum-half | (1999-01-19)19 January 1999 (aged 20) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Coenie Oosthuizen | Prop | (1989-03-22)22 March 1989 (aged 29) | 102 | 50 | 28 | 10 |
| Tyler Paul | Loose forward | (1995-01-20)20 January 1995 (aged 24) | 30 | 10 | 15 | 5 |
| Chiliboy Ralepelle | Hooker | (1986-09-11)11 September 1986 (aged 32) | 104 | 30 | 35 | 10 |
| Dylan Richardson | Loose forward | (1999-01-15)15 January 1999 (aged 20) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Juan Schoeman | Prop | (1991-09-18)18 September 1991 (aged 27) | 27 | 0 | 27 | 0 |
| Louis Schreuder | Scrum-half | (1990-04-25)25 April 1990 (aged 28) | 96 | 20 | 16 | 5 |
| Rhyno Smith | Fullback | (1993-02-11)11 February 1993 (aged 26) | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Luke Stringer | Loose forward | (1995-12-12)12 December 1995 (aged 23) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Akker van der Merwe | Hooker | (1991-06-17)17 June 1991 (aged 27) | 64 | 50 | 15 | 15 |
| JJ van der Mescht | Lock | (1999-05-04)4 May 1999 (aged 19) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Philip van der Walt | Loose forward | (1989-07-14)14 July 1989 (aged 29) | 85 | 30 | 36 | 5 |
| Ruben van Heerden | Lock | (1997-10-27)27 October 1997 (aged 21) | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kerron van Vuuren | Hooker | (1995-05-23)23 May 1995 (aged 23) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kobus van Wyk | Wing | (1992-01-22)22 January 1992 (aged 27) | 54 | 100 | 24 | 55 |
| Jacques Vermeulen | Loose forward | (1995-02-08)8 February 1995 (aged 24) | 22 | 10 | 22 | 10 |
| Wian Vosloo | Loose forward | (1995-02-15)15 February 1995 (aged 24) | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Jeremy Ward | Centre | (1996-01-10)10 January 1996 (aged 23) | 15 | 5 | 13 | 5 |
| Grant Williams | Scrum-half | (1996-07-22)22 July 1996 (aged 22) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Courtney Winnaar | Fullback | (1997-03-27)27 March 1997 (aged 21) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cameron Wright | Scrum-half | (1994-04-20)20 April 1994 (aged 24) | 18 | 10 | 18 | 10 |
| Leolin Zas | Wing | (1995-10-20)20 October 1995 (aged 23) | 15 | 40 | 0 | 0 |
| Note: Players' ages and statistics are correct as of 15 February 2019, the date of the opening round of the competition. |

## Standings

The final standings for the 2019 Super Rugby season are:
2019 Super Rugby: Overall standings :
| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Crusaders | 16 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 497 | 257 | +240 | 73 | 31 | 8 | 0 | 58 | Conference leaders Qualified to the finals |
| 2 | Jaguares | 16 | 11 | 0 | 5 | 461 | 352 | +109 | 60 | 38 | 5 | 2 | 51 | Conference leaders Qualified to the finals |
| 3 | Brumbies | 16 | 10 | 0 | 6 | 430 | 366 | +64 | 65 | 49 | 5 | 3 | 48 | Conference leaders Qualified to the finals |
| 4 | Hurricanes | 16 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 449 | 362 | +87 | 60 | 46 | 3 | 0 | 53 | Wildcard teams Qualified to finals |
| 5 | Bulls | 16 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 410 | 369 | +41 | 42 | 50 | 3 | 2 | 41 | Wildcard teams Qualified to finals |
| 6 | Sharks | 16 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 343 | 335 | +8 | 40 | 39 | 3 | 4 | 37 | Wildcard teams Qualified to finals |
| 7 | Chiefs | 16 | 7 | 2 | 7 | 451 | 465 | −14 | 63 | 59 | 2 | 2 | 36 | Wildcard teams Qualified to finals |
| 8 | Highlanders | 16 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 441 | 392 | +49 | 60 | 53 | 2 | 4 | 36 | Wildcard teams Qualified to finals |
| 9 | Lions | 16 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 401 | 478 | −77 | 53 | 64 | 2 | 1 | 35 | |
| 10 | Stormers | 16 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 344 | 366 | −22 | 34 | 46 | 1 | 4 | 35 | |
| 11 | Rebels | 16 | 7 | 0 | 9 | 393 | 465 | −72 | 56 | 61 | 3 | 3 | 34 | |
| 12 | Waratahs | 16 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 367 | 415 | −48 | 46 | 54 | 0 | 6 | 30 | |
| 13 | Blues | 16 | 5 | 1 | 10 | 347 | 369 | −22 | 45 | 47 | 2 | 6 | 30 | |
| 14 | Reds | 16 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 385 | 438 | −53 | 50 | 59 | 1 | 3 | 28 | |
| 15 | Sunwolves | 16 | 2 | 0 | 14 | 294 | 584 | −290 | 34 | 85 | 0 | 4 | 12 | |
South African Conference :
| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts |
| 1 | Jaguares | 16 | 11 | 0 | 5 | 461 | 352 | +109 | 60 | 38 | 5 | 2 | 51 |
| 2 | Bulls | 16 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 410 | 369 | +41 | 42 | 50 | 3 | 2 | 41 |
| 3 | Sharks | 16 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 343 | 335 | +8 | 40 | 39 | 3 | 4 | 37 |
| 4 | Lions | 16 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 401 | 478 | −77 | 53 | 64 | 2 | 1 | 35 |
| 5 | Stormers | 16 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 344 | 366 | −22 | 34 | 46 | 1 | 4 | 35 |
* Competition rules
* Qualification: Eight teams will qualify to the finals, with their final positions in the overall log determining their seedings in the quarter-finals. The conference winners will be seeded #1 to #3 for the quarter-finals, in order of log points gained during the group stages, while the wildcards will be seeded as #4 to #8 in order of log points gained during the group stages. In the quarter-finals, the three conference winners and the highest-ranked wildcard team will host the first round of the finals, with the highest-seeded conference winner (Team #1) hosting the fifth-seeded wildcard entry (Team #8) in quarter-final 1, the second-seeded conference winner (Team #2) hosting the fourth-seeded wildcard entry (Team #7) in quarter-final 3, the third-seeded conference winner (Team #3) hosting the third-seeded wildcard entry (Team #6) in quarter-final 4 and the top-seeded wildcard entry (Team #4) hosting the second-seed wildcard entry (Team #5) in quarter-final 2. The quarter-final winners will progress to the semi-finals, where the winners of quarter-finals 1 and 2 will play each other, as well as the winners of quarter-finals 3 and 4, each tie hosted by the higher-seeded team. The winner of the semi-finals will progress to the Final, again to be held at the venue of the highest-seeded team.
* Tournament points breakdown: * 4 tournament points for a win * 2 tournament points for a draw * 1 tournament bonus point for a loss by seven points or less * 1 tournament bonus point for scoring at least three tries more than the opponent in a match
* Classification: Teams standings are calculated as follows: * Conference leaders * Tournament points * Number of games won * Overall points difference * Number of tries scored * Overall try difference * Coin toss
The table below shows the Sharks' progression throughout the season. For each round, their cumulative points total is shown with the overall log position:
| Team | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | R9 | R10 | R11 | R12 | R13 | R14 | R15 | R16 | R17 | R18 |
| Opposition | SUN | BLU | STO | BUL | Bye | REB | BUL | LIO | JAG | RED | WAR | CRU | CHI | Bye | LIO | HUR | JAG | STO |
| Cumulative Points | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Position (overall) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Position (SA Conf.) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Key: | win | draw | loss | bye | |

## Matches

The Sharks played the following matches during the 2019 Super Rugby season:

## Player statistics

The Super Rugby appearance record for players that represented the Sharks in 2019 is as follows:
| 2019 Sharks player statistics |
| Player name | SUN | BLU | STO | BUL | REB | BUL | LIO | JAG | RED | WAR | CRU | CHI | LIO | HUR | JAG | STO | BRU | SF | F | | App | Try | Con | Pen | DG | Pts |
| Tendai Mtawarira | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | — | — | | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Akker van der Merwe | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | | | | 16 | 16 | | | | | | | — | — | | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| Coenie Oosthuizen | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | | 3 | 18 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | — | — | | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Hyron Andrews | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 19 | 4 | 19 | 19 | 4 | 5 | 5 | — | — | | 17 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Ruan Botha | 5 | 5 | 5 | | | | | | | 19 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | | | — | — | | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Jacques Vermeulen | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | | 7 | 20 | 20 | 6 | 20 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | — | — | | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Tyler Paul | 7 | 7 | 7 | | | | | | 19 | | | 19 | | 20 | 7 | 7 | 7 | — | — | | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dan du Preez | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | — | — | | 16 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 |
| Louis Schreuder | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 21 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | — | — | | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Robert du Preez | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 10 | 10 | 10 | — | — | | 17 | 2 | 16 | 10 | 0 | 72 |
| Makazole Mapimpi | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | — | — | | 16 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 |
| André Esterhuizen | 12 | 12 | 12 | 22 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | — | — | | 16 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| Lukhanyo Am | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | — | — | | 16 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| S'busiso Nkosi | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | | | | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | — | — | | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Aphelele Fassi | 15 | 15 | 15 | | 15 | 15 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 23 | 15 | | — | — | | 15 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| Kerron van Vuuren | 16 | 16 | 16 | | | 16 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Juan Schoeman | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | | 17 | 1 | 17 | | | | 17 | 17 | 17 | | 17 | — | — | | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Khutha Mchunu | 18 | | | | | 18 | | | | | | | | | | | | — | — | | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gideon Koegelenberg | 19 | 19 | 19 | 4 | 19 | 19 | | | | | | | | | | 19 | 19 | — | — | | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Phepsi Buthelezi | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | — | — | | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cameron Wright | 21 | 21 | 21 | | | | | | 21 | 9 | 21 | 21 | 21 | | | 21 | 21 | — | — | | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rhyno Smith | 22 | | 23 | 15 | | | | | | | | | | | | 23 | 23 | — | — | | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Jeremy Ward | 23 | 22 | 22 | 12 | | | | | | | | | | | 22 | 22 | 22 | — | — | | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Thomas du Toit | | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 3 | 18 | 3 | 1 | 1 | | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | — | — | | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Curwin Bosch | | 23 | | 23 | 23 | 23 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 15 | | 15 | — | — | | 14 | 2 | 15 | 19 | 0 | 97 |
| Wian Vosloo | | | | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | — | — | | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fez Mbatha | | | | 16 | | | 16 | 16 | 16 | | | 16 | | | | | | — | — | | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ruben van Heerden | | | | 19 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | | 4 | 4 | 19 | 4 | 4 | — | — | | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Grant Williams | | | | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | | | | | | | | | | — | — | | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Craig Burden | | | | | 16 | | | | | | | | | | 16 | | | — | — | | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Luke Stringer | | | | | 20 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | 20 | | | 20 | 20 | 20 | — | — | | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Marius Louw | | | | | 22 | | | | 22 | 23 | 23 | 12 | | | | | | — | — | | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Lwazi Mvovo | | | | | | 14 | 14 | 14 | 11 | | | | | | | | | — | — | | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Philip van der Walt | | | | | | 20 | 20 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 6 | | | | | — | — | | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kobus van Wyk | | | | | | 22 | 22 | 22 | 13 | | | 23 | 23 | 23 | | | | — | — | | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| JJ van der Mescht | | | | | | | 19 | 19 | | | | | | | | | | — | — | | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mzamo Majola | | | | | | | | 17 | | 17 | 17 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| John-Hubert Meyer | | | | | | | | 18 | | | 18 | 18 | 18 | | | 18 | | — | — | | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jean-Luc du Preez | | | | | | | | 20 | 20 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | | | | — | — | | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dylan Richardson | | | | | | | | | | | | | 16 | | | | | — | — | | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cullen Collopy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 16 | | 16 | 16 | — | — | | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Zee Mkhabela | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 21 | 21 | | | — | — | | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | 17 | 41 | 32 | 29 | 0 | 356 |
(c) denotes the team captain. For each match, the player's squad number is shown. Starting players are numbered 1 to 15, while the replacements are numbered 16 to 23. If a replacement made an appearance in the match, it is indicated by . "App" refers to the number of appearances made by the player, "Try" to the number of tries scored by the player, "Con" to the number of conversions kicked, "Pen" to the number of penalties kicked, "DG" to the number of drop goals kicked and "Pts" refer to the total number of points scored by the player.
* Kwanda Dimaza, Muller du Plessis, Andrew Evans, Tera Mtembu, Sanele Nohamba, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Courtney Winnaar and Leolin Zas did not make any appearances.