There will be a whole lot of new faces down at the Sharks territory at the Absa Stadium in Durban next season after it was revealed that the KwaZulu-Natal Rugby Union, owners of the Sharks franchise, has made 13 new signings for the 2005 season.
The new signings place emphasis on squad depth, an area severely tested this past season because of an extraordinarily high injury toll.
The new signings tie in with an investment in the future in the form of three-year contracts to Butch James, Brent Russell and John Smit — three key players in a new and exciting squad.
Coach Kevin Putt has made it clear that there is a specific plan in place to rebuild the squad based on strategic requirements for each position.
”With this in mind, the cogs will click into place one by one as we reach our objectives over the next three years, sign the key players that have been identified, and see them run out in the black and white,” he said.
The platform for the development of the youth has been set into place, with five of the country’s top youngsters having been signed as part of the development programme — Alistair Hargreaves (lock), Bradley Barritt (centre), Johan Snyman (lock), Scott Spedding (flyhalf), JC Strauss (prop) — as well as several other identified youngsters who should be ready for the international scene within the next two seasons.
The Sharks also have devised a plan to attract and recruit the best players in the country to Sharks territory over the next two seasons. — Sapa
The Sharks squad in 2005 will feature the following new faces:
Backs: Jacques Schutte, Tsepo Kokoali, Dean Hall, Gcobani Bobo, Odwa Ndungane and Ruan Pienaar.
Forwards: Jaco Gouws, Braam Immelman, Jacques Botes, Callie Wannenburg, Danie Saayman, Skipper Badenhorst and Bismarck du Plessis.