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Sharks leave several Boks behind for European tour as injury list grows
SA Rugby Mag reports that the Sharks have named a 28-man squad for their EPCR Challenge Cup and United Rugby Championship matches overseas, with several Springboks rested
The Sharks have taken a measured approach to their overseas tour, with head coach JP Pietersen naming a 28-man squad for the team’s EPCR Challenge Cup and United Rugby Championship fixtures away from home. According to SA Rugby Mag, the Durban side leaves with 17 forwards and 11 backs as they prepare for a demanding three-match stretch in Europe and the British Isles.
Their campaign starts against Lyon at the Stade de Gerland on Saturday. From there, the Sharks move on to Cardiff and Munster for URC matches over the following two weeks. In practical terms, that means the squad has been trimmed for travel and game management, with Pietersen balancing the demands of two competitions across a short period.
The travelling party includes Springboks Jaden and Jordan Hendrikse, Jason Jenkins, Vincent Koch, Vincent Tshituka and Jaco Williams. Among that group, Tshituka, Williams and Jordan Hendrikse are in line to make their first appearances of the season, which gives the tour extra significance for those players as the Sharks look to settle combinations early on.
At the same time, a number of established names have been left behind. Captain André Esterhuizen, Edwill van der Merwe, Ethan Hooker, Ox Nché and Thomas du Toit are notable absentees from the touring group. SA Rugby Mag also lists Eben Etzebeth, Makazole Mapimpi, Phepsi Buthelezi and Vusi Moyo among the Sharks’ casualties.
The injury list helps explain the calls. Etzebeth is out with a lower-limb problem and is still awaiting further medical examination to determine the extent of the injury. Fez Mbatha has a lower-limb injury, Hendre Stassen has a tendon issue, Mapimpi is dealing with a hamstring problem, Buthelezi and Moyo are both sidelined with shoulder injuries, and Yaw Penxe is recovering from a pec injury.
That means the Sharks travel without several players who started last week’s derby defeat to the Stormers in Cape Town, including Etzebeth, Buthelezi and Moyo. For Pietersen, the task on tour is now as much about getting healthy bodies through a difficult schedule as it is about results. The squad list shows a side trying to stay competitive while protecting players who are unavailable or being managed carefully.
The full squad gives a sense of the depth Pietersen has had to work with. The forwards group includes Cameron Dawson, Deon Slabbert, Eduan Swart, Emile van Heerden, Esethu Mnebelele, Ethan Bester, Hanro Jacobs, Jason Jenkins, Manu Tshituka, Matt Romao, Nemo Roelofse, Nick Hatton, Phatu Ganyane, Stephan Lewies, Tinotenda Mavesere, Vincent Koch and Vincent Tshituka. The backs selected are Bradley Davids, Gianni Lombard, Ivan van Zyl, Jaco Williams, Jaden Hendrikse, Jordan Hendrikse, Jurenzo Julius, Litelihle Bester, Murray Koster, Suleiman Hartzenberg and Zekhethelo Siyaya.
For Sharks supporters, the tour is important for more than just the fixture list. It offers a first look at some returning players, while also showing how many familiar names remain unavailable. With Lyon first up and two more URC tests to follow, the squad announcement suggests the Sharks are heading overseas with a mix of caution, opportunity and necessity.
Why it matters for South Africans
SA Rugby Mag reports that the Sharks have named a 28-man squad for their EPCR Challenge Cup and United Rugby Championship matches overseas, with several Springboks rested
What happens next
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Written with AI assistance and human-edited by the Wize Owl desk, based on the credited reporting below.