Phepsi Buthelezi to captain Sharks in 2021 Currie Cup

Sharks head coach Sean Everitt has named Phepsi Buthelezi captain for the upcoming Currie Cup campaign 

The Currie Cup kicks off this Saturday with the Sharks in action with an away clash against Griquas in Kimberley.

Exciting eighthman Buthelezi will lead the Sharks in the domestic competition and despite his relative youth; he is however no stranger to leadership roles and has led teams at every phase of his promising career.

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Buthelezi was born in northern KwaZulu-Natal and would complete his schooling at DHS where he captained the 1st XV before joining the Sharks at under 19 level where he truly excelled.

Everitt coached Buthelezi in the under-19 setup and played a big part in his growth and as a player and leader since he joined The Sharks in 2014.

The duo proved to be an inspired partnership when the Sharks Under 19s won the SA Rugby Under 19 Championship in 2018. The Junior Sharks had gone the entire season unbeaten before vanquishing the Blue Bulls 40-27 in the final; the men from Durban might hope this bodes well for the immediate future of the senior side as the seek to break the recent dominance of the Bulls.

Given the loss of a large group of senior players to the Springbok cause, the Sharks squad that will be campaigning in the Currie Cup will provide the perfect opportunity to grow and develop not only the playing contingent, but the leadership group as well.

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Sharks appoint ‘born leader’ Buthelezi as skipper

“As a proven and born leader, Buthelezi has also captained the KZN Craven Week side, SA Schools and SA Under 20 and now adds senior provincial leadership duties to his growing – and glowing – CV,” a Sharks press release reads.

“He is a respected leader amongst his team-mates and a player who never gives less than his all. His effort and performance against the Bulls last Saturday at Kings Park was the stuff of Man of the Match proportions and his lead-by-example style is reminiscent of fellow Sharks eighthman and former captain Gary Teichmann.

“Despite his relative youth, while commanding respect from the youngsters in the team, many of who he has played with at junior level, his senior team-mates hold him in high regard too.

“Those senior players, experienced campaigners like Jeremy Ward and Henco Venter who have also captained the Sharks, will provide experience and calm heads and offer their support and guidance in his captaincy duties.”

Sharks Rugby