The 2025/26 URC season is here, with the Hollywoodbets Sharks out to improve on their promising third place finish of last term. With that in mind, we’ve selected five members of John Plumtree’s squad set for massive individual campaigns.
Lukhanyo Am
The best outside centre in the world as recently as a few years back, Am’s recent seasons have been blighted by injury which has contributed to understandable periods of shaky form. With Jesse Kriel and Canan Moodie now the preferred choices by Bok coach Rassie Erasmus at national level, the former Southern Kings man needs to produce something special in the URC in the months ahead to force his way back into the picture, with his place in the 2027 World Cup squad becoming increasingly unlikely.
While the two-time World Cup winner is hardly a spring chicken at 31-years-of-age, he still has enough time to put the requisite magic and consistency back into his game that will catapult him back into the Bok conversation if he can remain injury free. Such is the quality of the man, who’d bet against him?
Vincent Tshituka
The newly minted Springbok has been one of the Durbanites’ most consistent performers since his arrival at the Shark Tank in 2022 and was much deserving of his inevitable Test debut against Italy earlier this year. While he didn’t crack the nod for Rassie Erasmus’ Rugby Championship squad, the Bok boss did hint that intensifying his physicality in contact would stand him in good stead selection-wise going forward, something the 27-year-old will surely have taken to heart during his URC pre-season preparations.
Expect to see a reenergised Captain Vinny going full blast for the Sharks, particularly on the opening Euro tour.
The Hendrikse Bros
Usually a Springbok squad regular, an indifferent last URC campaign for the Hollywoodbets Sharks has seen Jaden fall down the national pecking order of late. Possessing a superb tactical kicking game and all of the George Gregan-esque niggle you’d want from a premier scrumhalf, the Glenwood Old Boy enters arguably the most important season of his career, with his place at the highest level very much on the line and more average showings in the coming months likely to see his World Cup stocks fall even lower.
For Jordan, the picture is pretty similar. Though not as experienced in green and gold as his older boet, his axing from the Boks is a proper reality check, and considering the unbelievable competition for the No 10 berth, it will likely take career-best form to get himself back into the fold. Still, there’s no reason why that won’t spur the playmaker on to orchestrate wins the Hollywoodbets Sharks in the months ahead, though he will have to sit out the first few rounds through injury.
Jurenzo Julius
Described recently by Hollywoodbets Sharks XV coach JP Pietersen as a “freaky” talent, Julius proved last season that he is more than capable of meeting the challenge of URC-calibre rugby and will be out to take his game to the level as he looks to nail down a starting berth in a hotly contested black and white midfield.
Blessed with electric speed and silky skills, if the Boogie Man can improve his decision-making in tight game scenarios and stand up tall defensively, he could even accelerate a national call-up as early as next season – he’s got that much potential.
