Sharks imports: Who are they?

SPOTLIGHT: In part two or our four-part series, we take a look at the amount of foreign born players that represented the Sharks at Super Rugby and/or URC level.

John Allan – The Scottish born duel international hooker boast an interesting career tale.

Allan moved to South Africa as an eight year old – but made his Test debut for Scotland in 1990 playing through to 1991.

In 1993 he switched allegiances to play for his adopted country South Africa until 1996.

Allan earned both his national call-ups while playing for the Sharks between 1988 and 1997.

Steve Atherton – Atherton was technically a South African Rugby Union player having being schooled at Pinetown Boys High – but was born in England.

The utility forward who was comfortable at lock or flank represented the Sharks between 1998 and 2000 as well as South Africa between 1992 and 1996.

Tony Brown – as featured in part one of our series, Brown first joined the Sharks in 2006 after a call from Dick Muir at the time to slot in for the injured Butch James.

Brown also boast an impressive coaching career which includes the Highlanders and Sunwolves as head coach and assistant coach with Japan and currently South Africa.

Joaquìn Díaz Bonilla – The Argentine international had a brief stint with the Sharks Super Rugby side between 2021 and 2022, only racking up eight appreances in the process.

He added a further four Sharks caps to his name in the 2022 Currie Cup.

Daniel Farani – The Samoa international loose forward joined the Sharks in 2005 and made his debut in the 2006 revamped Super 14 competition which saw the addition of the Western Force and Cheetahs to the competition – after the Cats was disembarked and the Lions went solo.

Adrian Garvey – Another duel international, Garvey was born in Zimbabwe and represented both his birth nation as well as South Africa on the Test arena.

The tightead prop represented the Sharks at Super Rugby level between 1996 and 1999 before taking up a stint with the Cats in 2000.

Andy Goode – The former England flyhalf joined the Sharks during the 2010 season on a loan deal – playing eight games for the KwaZulu-Natal side.

Goode made his Sharks Super Rugby debut off the bench against the Crusaders, which would turn out to be a debut to forget as he was yellow-carded six minutes from full-time for a dangerous tackle on Dan Carter.

Joel Hintz – Hintz joined the Sharks for the 2023/4 URC season but ended up playing only two matches in the process.

The New Zealand born prop since took up a playing opportunity with the Western Force.

Kees Lensing – The Namibian international joined the Sharks in 2006 until 2008.

He represented Namibia on 24 occasions.

Tino Mavesere – Mavesere is a Zimbabwe international loose forward who signed with the Sharks in 2021, but made his official Currie Cup and URC debuts for the side in 2023.

He is currently in the Sharks Currie Cup squad who’s in the hunt for the title.

Frèdèric Michalak – The 77 time capped France international is no stranger to Durban as he spent two stints with the Sharks in 2008 and between 2011 and 2012.

The flyhalf was much loved by the local fans and often delivered when required.

He tasted Currie Cup success in 2008 and broke the Stormers’ hearts in the 2012 Super Rugby semi-final at Newlands – where his two drop goals proved to be evident in the upset result.

His final act as a Shark came in the Super Rugby Final a week later against the Chiefs in Hamilton – which the home side emerged victors from.

Olajuwon Noa – Noa is a Samoa international who joined the Sharks in the 2021/22 URC season but failed to play a single match for the side.

Paul Perez – Another former Samoa international, Perez was part of the Sharks Currie Cup side of 2015 and only featured twice, and despite being in the Super Rugby mix, he never represented the Sharks on that level

Clément Poitrenaud – The former France fullback formed part of the Sharks’ 2017 Super Rugby campaign but didn’t really fire in Durban – representing the side a mere four times.

Kevin Putt – The New Zealand-born scrumhalf represented the Sharks on 35 occasions in the Super 12 between 1996 and 1998.

Putt also toured with the Springboks to Britain and Ireland in 1994 and in 1996 to Argentina and Europe, but failed to play a Test match.

Epi Taione – Taione was the definition of a hybrid player – being able to cover centre, wing and play in the loose forwards.

The Tonga international made three appearance for the Sharks during 2008.

He also represented the Pacific Islanders team between 2006 and 2008.

Ben Tapuai – The former Australia international centre joined the Sharks in 2021 – representing the side in the URC on 31 occasions

He’s also a Super Rugby champion with the Reds side of 2011 that beat the Crusaders in the Final.

Jack Wilson – The former New Zealand Sevens player had a brief stint with the Sharks in 2015 – racking up four appearances in what was a season to forget – finishing 11th on the table.