Cape Town - The Sharks have suffered a blow after it was confirmed that Marcell Coetzee will have knee surgery and has been ruled out of rugby for nine months.
Coetzee, 24, sustained the injury in his team's 24-9 loss to the Lions in Durban on Saturday and will play no further part in Super Rugby 2016.
The Springbok flanker is set to join PRO12 side Ulster at the end of the season.