Rugby news from KwaZulu-Natal:
THE WEIGHT OF LEADERSHIP:
For Hollywoodbets Sharks captain Vincent Tshituka, the honour of the leadership role he has been entrusted with comes with both responsibility and expectation.
It is not a role he takes lightly, but certainly one he embraces for the opportunity to develop as a rugby player and as a person, not to mention the honour he feels being entrusted with the captaincy of the Hollywoodbets Sharks that has been bestowed on him.
“I love the challenge,” he admits enthusiastically.
“There’s the performance expected of you as a player, but as a captain there’s a level of ownership you take on for the entire team. It’s something that’s really challenged me, but I’m still growing and learning from the senior guys.
“There are a lot of players in the squad who have captained before. These are guys I can lean on as well.”
He has also reinforced the belief that captaincy should never change a player. It is a role he plays, but it shouldn’t detract from the person he is.
“The biggest thing for me is to remain authentically myself,” he says. “I’m a person who loves to lead by action and sacrifice, I love to put my body on the line; that’s my natural way of leading.
“It’s been a challenge, but in the best way. I’m not only growing as a player, but as a man as well.”
Captains are often elevated beyond normal expectations of the contribution a player should make on the field and for some people, the leadership role can be a daunting one: the spotlight is on you and you may reap support or you may face criticism for the way you play, how you lead or the decisions you make on the field.
For others, it’s a motivating factor to lead by example, to set the tone and to drive your team-mates to similar heights.
For Tshituka, it’s a positive, rather than a burden.
“With great power comes great responsibility as the saying goes, and it’s exactly that,” he admits.
“It’s an opportunity and definitely not a burden, but with the opportunity comes a massive weight. ‘Burden’ is probably the wrong word, but certainly there’s a weight that comes with that responsibility.
“In every game I get to captain, I try to do my utmost best and I always try to lead by being a good example of how and what the coaches and players want from each other.
“It’s honestly a privilege, a great privilege.”
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Know Your Opposition – Leinster:
The Hollywoodbets Sharks face off against one of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship tournament’s biggest threats in their final tour match of the opening three weeks.
The current title-holders defeated the Vodacom Bulls in the previous final, and before that, won the silverware for four years running between 2018 and 2021. Further titles in 2013 and 2014, along with four losing appearances in the final make them arguably the most successful team in the tournament’s 16-year history. They have also won the Heineken Cup five times, losing a further four finals.
Leinster opened their 2025/26 account against the DHL Stormers and uncharacteristically failed to register a single point in round one, going down 35-nil in Cape Town before completing their South African tour against the Vodacom Bulls with another loss, before returning to Ireland for their first home game of the campaign: when they host the Hollywoodbets Sharks in round three.
Founded 146 years ago in 1879, Leinster generally play at the 18,500-seater RDS Arena, although the match against the Hollywoodbets Sharks will take place at their alternative venue, the 51,700-capacity Aviva Stadium, also the home of Irish international rugby.
Jordie Barrett has returned to New Zealand after a hugely successful short-term sabbatical that saw him contribute greatly to Leinster’s VURC success last season, but a strong academy system has seen Leinster promote from within, bringing 86-time All Black Rieko Ioane from the Blues for a short-term deal and bolstering their squad with eight academy players.
The team is based in Ireland’s capital Dublin, and the area has a long history dating back over 6000 years, evidence of fish traps found during construction work pointing to habitation in prehistoric times.
Dublin was established as a settlement around the seventh century by the Gaels (who spoke Gaelic), and later the Vikings.
The name Dublin is derived from the word Blackpool, in Middle Irish – ‘Du(i)blind’, to refer to a dark tidal pool in the gardens of Dublin Castle which has stood since the days of King John, the first Lord of Ireland, while Old Norse called it ‘Dyflin’ to refer to its earlier name Duibhlinn, attributed to an earlier Christian settlement.
One of Dublin’s greatest success stories is Arthur Guiness after whom Guiness draught is named. Founded in 1759, the Guinness brewery eventually grew to become the largest brewery in the world and the largest employer in Dublin.
Leinster rugby bring a physical edge to Dublin’s rich history of culture and learning, the city is served by four Universities, including the famous Trinity College, established in 1592. Dublin was named European Capital of Science in 2012 and has a long history of producing intellectuals, artists and men and women of international acclaim.
Included in this list are Nobel laureates William Butler Yeats, George Bernard Shaw and Samuel Beckett, as well as writers and playwrights like Oscar Wilde, Jonathan Swift and the creator of Dracula, Bram Stoker.
U2 is joined by Thin Lizzy, Bob Geldof, Chris De Burgh, the Script, Sinéad O’Connor, Boyzone, Kodaline, Fontaines D.C. and Westlife, amongst other internationally acclaimed bands and musicians.
Leinster have done these famous Dubliners proud and will no doubt look to make up for a shaky start to this season’s tournaments when they host the Hollywoodbets Sharks on Saturday at 6.30pm.
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