Sharks XV coach Mike Vowles has named his first match 23 of the 2026 Currie Cup campaign to face the Pumas in Nelspruit on Friday evening.
Journeyman flyhalf Tim Swiel will wear the Sharks No 10 jersey, while 21-year-old Thomas Dyer is set to lead out the men from Durban at Mbombela Stadium.
Swiel starts alongside scrumhalf Ross Braude, while Marnus Potgieter and Janco Purchase combine in midfield.
Chijindu Okontu is named at fullback, with Blitzbok speedster Christie Grobbelaar and Lyle Matthews completing the back three.
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The loose trio features Dyer at No 8, flanked by Jannes Potgieter and Willem van den Hever.
Johan Momsen and Deon Slabbert pack down in the second row behind loosehead prop Cameron Dawson, hooker Kerron van Vuuren and tighthead Simphiwe Ngobese.
The replacements include Jacques Marais, Jaco du Toit and Lee-Marvin Mazibuko as front-row cover, with Sipho Nonyalela and Hanu Pieterse the remaining forward reserves.
Ceano Everson, Chris Horak and Matthew Fortuin are set to provide the backline impact from the bench.
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“At the very front of it [Sharks’ Currie Cup campaign] is player development,” Vowles was quoted by IOL. “The second part is to try and get the more experienced guys to find form so that they can fight for URC spots.
“Thirdly, it is to be competitive,” he added. “We want to instil the Sharks DNA in the players, bearing in mind how the franchise wants to play at URC level.”
“We will strive to win, and it would be fantastic on a team level, but from an organisational point of view, success will be measured by how many players transition through to the URC.”
SHARKS – 15 Chijindu Okontu, 14 Christie Grobbelaar, 13 Marnus Potgieter, 12 Janco Purchase, 11 Lyle Matthews, 10 Tim Swiel, 9 Ross Braude, 8 Thomas Dyer (c), 7 Jannes Potgieter, 6 Willem van den Hever, 5 Deon Slabbert, 4 Johan Momsen, 3 Simphiwe Ngobese, 2 Kerron van Vuuren, 1 Cameron Dawson.
Bench: 16 Jacques Marais, 17 Jaco du Toit, 18 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 19 Sipho Nonyalela, 20 Hanu Pieterse, 21 Ceano Everson, 22 Chris Horak, 23 Matthew Fortuin.
Photo: Steve Haag Sports/Gallo Images
The post Swiel takes the wheel for Sharks XV appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Sharks XV coach Mike Vowles has named his first match 23 of the 2026 Currie Cup campaign to face the Pumas in Nelspruit on Friday evening.
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