Rugby news from KwaZulu-Natal:
CHALLENGES TO OVERCOME:
This week’s round two Vodacom United Rugby Championship clash between the Hollywoodbets Sharks and Dragons takes place in a city steeped in rugby history.
Located along the river Usk almost 20km away from the Welsh capital Cardiff, the Dragons play their rugby out of Newport, or known locally as Casnewydd, which derives from its original, historic name Castell Newydd ar Wysg (‘New castle on the Usk’, referring to the medieval castle built by the Normans).
Newport has existed as a port town since medieval times, receiving its official status as a city (a ‘charter’) in 1314. With its vast coal deposits, Newport was the largest coal-exporting port in Wales until the mid 19th century.
Although mostly rural, Newport has hosted the Ryder Cup (2010) and the Nato Summit (2014), while its rugby team have a proud history, and a strong link to South African rugby, and indeed the Hollywoodbets Sharks.
The Dragons are one of the four Welsh teams who play in the VURC and also feature in the Investec Champions Cup and Challenge Cup.
Founded in 2003, they play their rugby out of the 8700-seater Rodney Parade Stadium, so-called because the club is located in Rodney Road.
Both Gary Teichmann and Percy Montgomery (Springboks and Hollywoodbets Sharks) featured for Newport in the team’s early years, while other notable players over the years include former Welsh captain Colin Charvis.
Elliot Dee, Aaron Wainwright, Ben Carter, Rio Dyer, Matthew Screech, Cai Evans, Rhodri Williams, Christian Coleman, Rhodri Jones, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Seb Davies, Dillon Lewis, Wyn Jones and Thomas Young have all featured for Wales at Test match level.
This season’s squad is predominantly Welsh, with a handful of overseas names, including South Africans Robert Hunt (prop) and flyhalf Tinus de Beer who moved from Cardiff to the Dragons this season, the South African having also represented the Vodacom Bulls, Suzuki Griquas and Airlink Pumas before making the move to Wales.
Other internationals include Argentina’s Rodrigo Martinez, England’s Levi Douglas and Australian Steve Cummins.
The Dragons finished 16th on the overall VURC Log for the 2024/25 season and will be looking to improve on their final placing this season, although they come off a first round 42-21 loss away to Ulster.
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CHALLENGES TO OVERCOME:
The Hollywoodbets Sharks’ 2025/26 Vodacom United Rugby Championship campaign has started off on a challenging note as they tour early, playing three games away from home and negotiate this tough period without the services of their Springboks and a number of injured players unavailable.
For Hollywoodbets Sharks head coach John Plumtree, the expectations for his side this season are that he faces early trying times, but after the first month or two, will build on the gains made upfront when squad depth allows him more freedom in team selection.
“Like all the South African franchises, we have massive challenges, but my hope is once we get our Springboks back, they’re ready and fit to play, both mentally and physically,” he explained. “That’s the real challenge, because they’ve been in a Springbok environment since June.
“We have to rely on our big players to have success, especially when it comes to these big, big games. How we utilise those boys when they get back, depending on their well-being – I know what to expect, I’ve seen it all. But there are many challenges along the way.
“I’d like to think it’s all smooth sailing, but the reality, based on the last two years’ experiences I’ve had, like now, we have to deal with injuries to key players, in key positions, in key combinations. If you look at what happened to us last year, it was only once we got past the Springbok resting protocols in February and March that we could really push for a place in the VURC finals.
“The rest of the time before that was really tough. A lot depends on how those boys come back and how the players we have now perform, so that they can do a job for us in the big games.”
Missing an entire front row, the Springbok’s most capped player ever, lock Eben Etzebeth, Bok captain and dual Rugby World Cup winner Siya Kolisi, and international backline players like Grant Williams, Jordan Hendrikse, Andre Esterhuizen, Ethan Hooker, Makazole Mapimpi and Aphelele Fassi and a fairly lengthy injury list, Plumtree has over 25 players unavailable to him.
The Springboks will look to retain their Castle Lager Rugby Championship title when they take on Argentina in their final match this weekend, before some of the Boks are released back to their franchises.
Will they all be selected?
“Only the guys that really want to play and can perform for us,” confirmed Plumtree insofar as many have carried a heavy international load and their health will be the primary consideration.
“We’ll need to be really careful with the well-being of the athletes, integrating them back, particularly if they’ve carried a heavy workload and been away from home for a long time. Then we have to see what their mindsets are like.”
The flyhalf situation is also a consideration but Plumtree said he was looking forward to getting Jordan Hendrikse and Siya Masuku back within the next three weeks.
“Jordan’s injury has been a bit longer than Siya’s who is healing quite fast, so we’re hoping Siya might be able to play a part on tour, if not then when we get back.
“We’d like to get Jordan back for the two home games post tour.”
The Hollywoodbets Sharks take on the Dragons on Friday night in round two, before closing out their three week tour against champions Leinster.
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SPAR powers four provincial rugby teams in game-changing sponsorship:
SPAR has announced its sponsorship of four provincial rugby teams – a bold show of support that puts community ahead of rivalry and reinforces SPAR’s commitment to grassroots sport development.
Starting 1 October 2025, SPAR proudly becomes the official grocery and liquor retail partner of four of South Africa’s powerhouse provincial rugby teams: The Sharks, the Vodacom Bulls, The Lions, and the DHL Stormers.
For decades, rugby has been more than just a sport in South Africa. It’s the heartbeat of towns, schools, and families, connecting people across provinces and generations. By backing regional rugby, SPAR is making a powerful statement: supporting the game, and the communities it represents, is bigger than choosing sides.
“At SPAR, community comes first. For years, we’ve invested in sport across South Africa. Rugby is the people’s game – and by backing provincial teams, we’re championing more than the sport itself; we’re backing the families, communities, and local economies it powers,” said Mpudi Maubane, National PR, Communications & Sponsorship Manager at The SPAR Group Southern Africa.
SPAR’s commitment to regional rugby extends to women’s rugby, including the Bulls Daisies and Sharks Women teams.
“We’re proud to be the first brand to back multiple unions at this scale – a true reflection of our belief that rugby belongs to everyone. Having our logo across all team kits is more than visibility for us; it’s a statement of unity. Rugby is built on resilience, teamwork, and belonging – the very same values we live by in serving our customers with quality and convenience every day,” continues Maubane.
The Sharks CEO, Shaun Bryans said: “We are proud to welcome SPAR to The Sharks family. SPAR is a brand that is deeply rooted in communities across the country, and its values of quality, convenience and care align perfectly with our own. Together, we look forward to building a partnership that not only strengthens our brands, but also delivers meaningful experiences to our fans, partners and our community at large.”
Edgar Rathbone, Blue Bulls Company CEO said: “This partnership with SPAR is more than a sponsorship, it’s a statement. It reflects the kind of rugby we believe in – one that unites, uplifts, and reaches beyond the try line into the heart of every community. To see a brand stand behind all four franchises, across both men’s and women’s teams, sends a powerful message about what matters most: people. We’re proud to be part of this historic moment and excited for what it means for the future of South African rugby.”
Stormers Rugby CEO Johan Le Roux added: “SPAR is a household name in South Africa, we are thrilled to be in it together with them as a sponsor of our team. We look forward to what promises to be a fantastic partnership. SPAR has been a pillar of the community for some time, and we strive to make meaningful connections with the communities that support us, so there is great synergy between us.”
Lions Rugby CEO, Rudolf Straeuli said: “We are extremely pleased to welcome SPAR to the Lions family. We share similar values of caring and culture, and just the like the popular shopping retailer, those values are what drive the Lions. We look forward to a journey filled with a passion for excellence and the growth of rugby in South Africa. This collaboration reflects the positive trend of brands increasingly investing in sports sponsorship in South Africa and is poised to be a fruitful journey for both SPAR and the Lions”.
Through this historic move, SPAR will work with the unions to create new opportunities to grow grassroots rugby, nurture regional pride, and support local economic development. By engaging with communities at every level – from youth players to local fans and SPAR shoppers – the sponsorship, which will run for the next three years, ensures the game’s values and energy reach far beyond the pitch.
“Our experience with netball through our 26-year sponsorship of the SPAR Proteas, along with hockey and other sporting codes, has shown how sport can unite people, build confidence, and foster teamwork,” concludes Maubane. “Bringing that same energy to rugby was a natural next step, allowing us to strengthen communities while celebrating South Africa’s most loved sport”.
The partnership extends across both SPAR grocery retail and TOPS at SPAR, ensuring that rugby fans – from match-day shoppers to weekend braai enthusiasts – feel the brand’s presence both on and off the field.
In-store, fans can look forward to unique experiences, promotions, and community-driven activations that celebrate rugby’s role as a unifier across South Africa. Because in rugby, as in SPAR stores, community comes first.
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