JP Pietersen wants the Sharks to fight for their jersey with the same passion that defined his playing career in Durban.
The former Springbok winger made 197 appearances for the Sharks across two spells, earned 70 Test caps and lifted the 2007 World Cup. Now, as head coach, he wants to give back to the club that shaped him.
The early signs are encouraging, with the Sharks winning four of their first five matches this season, including bonus-point victories over the Ospreys, Leinster and Cardiff in the URC, and an away win against Lyon in the EPCR Challenge Cup.
However for Pietersen, the mission goes beyond results.
“I wanted to bring back the fight and the pride for the jersey, but not by talking, by doing,” he says.
“I want the fans to see us fighting for 80 minutes. The Sharks have always been a team that never gives up. We always find a way to be in a game or win the game.”
After retiring in 2021, Pietersen moved straight into coaching, initially working in the Sharks’ youth structures before taking charge of the Currie Cup team. He guided them to the title in 2024, beating the Lions in the final at Ellis Park.
He was appointed interim head coach in December last year following John Plumtree’s departure, before being confirmed in the role permanently in February.
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“It was quite an easy one to say yes to leading. It’s something small I can give back. It’s close to my heart,” he says.
“It’s beautiful how the game of rugby shapes you and I will be forever grateful for the way the Sharks shaped me into the better person I am today.
“To sum the Sharks up, it’s the brand and the organisation that gave me everything.”
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Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images
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JP Pietersen wants the Sharks to fight for their jersey with the same passion that defined his playing career in Durban.
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