The Sharks have made sweeping changes to their rugby structures after a dismal start to the season, confirming that head coach John Plumtree will step down from his role at the end of the 2025/26 campaign. The team has managed just a single victory from their opening five United Rugby Championship (URC) fixtures, leaving them languishing in 13th place on the league table....Click to Read More >>➤

This poor run of form triggered an intensive internal review, culminating in a major organizational shake-up. The Sharks announced that Plumtree will transition into a mentoring and advisory position, a move described as being made “by mutual agreement.” The franchise was quick to affirm its continued support for the coach, stating he “retains the complete backing and support of ownership, management and players.”

Sharks CEO Shaun Bryans issued a frank assessment of the team’s situation, accepting full responsibility for the underwhelming performances. “Our performances this season have not been good enough, and we owe it to our fans and stakeholders to acknowledge and take full responsibility — no excuses,” Bryans stated. “That accountability sits across the entire organisation — from management and players, to myself as CEO.”

Comprehensive Review Spurs Immediate Action

The decision follows a comprehensive review of the Sharks’ entire rugby programme. Management engaged multiple stakeholders to diagnose the issues plaguing the team. The conclusion was that the problems are “multi-faceted,” requiring broader organizational changes rather than simplistic solutions.

This process has informed a series of immediate steps designed to rebuild the franchise’s competitive edge. A key part of the reshuffle sees Neil Powell shifting his focus to critical operational areas. Powell will now oversee the Junior and Academy programmes, player recruitment and retention, as well as logistics, medical, rehabilitation, travel, planning, and budget management.

Long-Term Vision for the Sharks

Bryans emphasized the ownership’s enduring ambition for the Sharks, despite the current challenges. He promised a relentless pursuit of improvement in the months ahead. “As an ownership group and leadership team, we remain ambitious about the future of the Sharks and, over the coming months, no stone will be left unturned as we look to build a high-performance environment,” he said.

This environment, he added, must be “capable of delivering the success that our players are capable of and that our fans and partners deserve.” The changes represent a significant moment for John Plumtree, who is in his second stint as head coach at the Sharks. His move to an advisory role marks the end of his direct leadership of the team.

Ongoing Scrutiny and Future Updates

The restructuring is not the end of the process. CEO Shaun Bryans confirmed that the entire rugby programme will remain under critical review for the remainder of the season. This top-to-bottom assessment will scrutinize every department and function within the rugby operation.

The Sharks have committed to involving external experts to help identify and implement necessary structural and performance improvements. Further updates on the franchise’s long-term strategy and additional changes are expected to be communicated in the coming months as the review continues. ...Click to Read More >>➤