Joey gets promotion after Currie Cup success

NEWS: Joey Mongalo has been rewarded for his success with the Sharks Currie Cup team.

Having taken them to the top of the standings, with just one round of league action remaining in the current season, it was confirmed on Monday that Mongalo will become the senior team’s defence coach for the 2023-2024 European competitions – the United Rugby Championship and Challenge Cup.

The announcement brings to a conclusion the coaching shake-up in Durban that has been in the making for months.

Neil Powell, caretaker coach since the axing of Sean Everitt mid-season, reverts to his role as Director of Rugby.

As with Powell, the well-documented announcement of John Plumtree as head coach has also been reaffirmed.

However, the changes come thick and fast.

Mongalo is the new defence coach, Dave Williams (like Plumtree) also returns to the Sharks as an assistant coach and takes over the attack portfolio, Springbok Warren Whiteley moves from defence to forwards, Philip Lemmer (like Mongalo one of several coaches who departed Ellis Park in recent years) is also a forwards assistant and Phiwe Nomlomo is in charge of the ‘kicking game and exits’.

Coaches who have departed Durban include Everitt, Yannick Bru (breakdown coach) and Noel McNamara (attack).