Big-spending Sharks are building a powerhouse union

The Sharks are well on their way to achieving their goal of being the biggest and meanest rugby union in South Africa – and maybe the world.

With a huge financial backer from the United States now on board the Durban-based team are starting to make other unions sit up and take notice.

It was one thing luring Siya Kolisi and Bongi Mbonambi from Western Province and the Stormers to Durban, but it’s quite another thing when Eben Etzebeth joins from Toulon in France, where some of the richest and best paid players in the game ply their trade.

Etzebeth joining the Sharks is big.

And this isn’t the end of it either, I don’t think.

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I wouldn’t be surprised if they also target a few other players around the world. They certainly need to strengthen other areas in their squad, like flyhalf, so don’t be surprised if we see a highly-regarded No 10 as the next big recruit.

Neil Powell, the Sevens wizard, is now also the Sharks’ new director of rugby to oversee all the rugby affairs – another indication that the Sharks want to further upskill their players and ensure they get the very best out of all the talent in the union.

There are now a number of big-hitters in that Sharks team, if you think of all the World Cup winners from 2019 and the rising youngsters coming through. Watch out for them in the coming few years.

It makes me think back to just two weeks ago when I wrote here that the Lions need to strengthen their squad if they’re to stay in touch with the other big teams in South Africa. And again I can’t help but think they need to start doing something quickly to not get left behind.

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Heck, the Bulls have a great squad at their disposal, with quality depth, and they remain on the look-out for talent, while the Stormers, too, are finding their way again. And if rumours are true that Lood de Jager is headed to Cape Town then that will be a big boost for their pack.

Moving on to this weekend’s Currie Cup games, I see that the Lions are again backing their youngsters in the outing against the Sharks at Ellis Park on Saturday, which is great for development in the union, but I hope some of those players can now come good for them.

One wonders though, with the ‘senior’ side struggling in the United Rugby Championship, how long the Lions will accept and be okay with two teams in two competitions not producing satisfactory results.