Cape Town - Currie Cup Head Coach, Sean Everitt has announced that Tera Mtembu and Jeremy Ward will co-captain the Sharks in the 2019 Currie Cup campaign.
Both players have filled leadership roles in the past and are no strangers to captaincy.
Mtembu has captained the Sharks in both Super Rugby and Currie Cup previously while Ward SA/20 team at the World Championship in 2016.
Sharks Super Rugby captain, Louis Schreuder was not considered as he will miss the first few matches of the Currie Cup with a broken toe.
Commenting on their appointments, Sean Everitt said: “The decision to go with co-captains will ensure leadership continuity on the field of play at all times. Both these players understand our diverse team culture and where we are heading collectively. More importantly they have the respect of the team and are natural leaders.
“I am a firm believer in the philosophy that every player should be a leader in their respective positions, however you do need your captain to be a voice of reason and someone with a calm head that the team can look to for direction during pressure situations. We have this in Tera and Jeremy.”
Everitt, also announced an exciting 39-man squad for the Currie Cup competition. Andrew Evans and Tyler Paul have not been included, at this stage, due to their current rehabilitation from long-term injuries. Amongst the players named is a certain JP Pietersen, a legend of Sharks rugby who makes a welcome return to Durban, after spending some time abroad. Pietersen has been contracted until Currie Cup 2020, where after he will be developed within the age-group system for a future coaching role.
Sharks Currie Cup Squad
Bandisa Ndlovu
Aphelele Fassi
Coenie Oosthuizen
Boeta Chamberlain
Craig Burden
Cameron Wright
Cullen Collopy
Curwin Bosch
Dylan Richardson
Grant Williams
Fezo Mbatha
Ilunga Mukendi
Gideon Koegelenberg
Inny Radebe
Hyron Andrews
Jeremy Ward (captain)
Jacques Vermeulen
JP Pietersen
JJ van der Mescht
Kobus van Wyk
John-Hubert Meyer
Leolin Zas
Juan Schoeman
Louis Schreuder
Kerron van Vuuren
Lwazi Mvovo
Khutha Mchunu
Marius Louw
Kwanda Dimaza
Muller du Plessis
Luke Stringer
Murray Koster
Michael Meyer
Rhyno Smith
Mzamo Majola
Sanele Nohamba
Phepsi Buthelezi
Ruben van Heerden
Tera Mtembu (captain)