Sharks lure a King to Durban
The Sharks have joined in the raid on the Southern Kings' player resources.
Talented fullback SP Marais will arrive at the Sharks from the Kings, subject to being released from the team who was relegated from Super Rugby at the weekend.
"We're hoping this happens soon as possible," Sharks Director of Rugby Brendan Venter said.
However, the Sharks are so confident he will join them that they have already named Marais in their Currie Cup squad.
The Sharks, beaten finalists last year, start their campaign when they host Griquas in Durban on Friday.
"SP is coming in as a squad member, losing Riaan Viljoen [heading to Japan] and possibly Louis Ludik [being courted by Agen] means his is a good addition to the Sharks, a long term investment for SP [Marais] for him to be at a top union like the Sharks."
Marais also confirmed the move on his twitter page: "Looking forward to moving to the Shark Tank!"
The Sharks bossed named a 43-man Currie Cup squad.
Six of the players have been included in the Springbok squad for the Rugby Championship – Willem Alberts, Marcell Coetzee, Bismarck and Jannie du Plessis, Tendai Mtawarira and Pat Lambie.
Their presence in the Currie Cup is still to be seen, depending on their Springbok commitments and whether any are released back to their province – which would be unlikely till the play-offs in October.
New Sharks CEO John Smit, who also addressed the media on Monday, admitted that he is satisfied over the composition of the Sharks Currie Cup squad.
"The balance of this squad is important and hopefully we will see the benefits of that, of older heads sitting alongside 20 year olds," Smit said.
"I'm very happy, I think it's a great looking Currie Cup squad. These are exciting times and we've put together a squad designed to win the Currie Cup and we've given players an opportunity they've never had before."
With all the sweet comes some sour in the form of news that S'bura Sithole has fracture his hand and will be out of action for the next six weeks.
Sharks squad: Willem Alberts, Jacques Botes, Anton Bresler, Craig Burden, Dale Chadwick, Marcell Coetzee, Kyle Cooper, Keegan Daniel, Jean Deysel, Justin Downey, Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Rayno Gerber, Hansie Graaf, Monde Hadebe, Wiehahn Herbst, Edwin Hewitt, Andrew James, Paul Jordaan, Marius Joubert, Francois Kleinhans, Patrick Lambie, Louis Ludik, Peet Marais, Sizo Maseko, Charl McLeod, Danie Mienie, Tendai Mtawarira, Lubabalo Mtembu, Lwazi Mvovo, Odwa Ndungane, Cobus Reinach, Sean Robinson, S'bura Sithole, Brynard Stander, Francois Steyn, Jaco van Tonder, Marco Wentzel, Tim Whitehead, Heimar Williams, Fred Zeilinga, SP Marais.
