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Can the real Sharks finally stand up? 

By @rugby365com
Thursday 29 May 2025

STAT ATTACK: The Sharks will be the last South African team to play their United Rugby Championship quarterfinal this Saturday and are looking to make their semifinal debut in the competition.

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The Durban-based outfit has a history of being losing finalists during the Super Rugby era and they are yet to advance beyond the quarterfinal stage in the URC.

The latter is a concerning stat considering the amount of Springbok talent on their roster.

In saying that, they have managed to turn a poor URC campaign around last season, becoming the first South African team to clinch European silverware by winning the 2023-24 Challenge Cup.

The article continues below…

Below are the Sharks’ respective records in knock-out rugby.

Quarterfinals

The Sharks played eight quarterfinals during the professional era and managed to win three of those for a 37.5 percent return.

*Note Super Rugby quarterfinals/qualifiers were only introduced in 2012 when the conference system was implemented. Previously the top four qualified for the semifinals.

Semifinals

They’ve reached 10 semifinals across all international competitions winning five of those for a 50 percent winning ratio — a decent return for the Durban-based outfit.

Finals

Heartbreak and disappointment are words that are synonymous with the Sharks in international club competitions, with a one-from-four return after their Challenge Cup heroics last season.

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Their best shot at Super Rugby glory came at home in 2007 before a missed penalty, conversion and clearance kick to touch by Frans Steyn allowed the legendary Bryan Habana the opportunity to exploit a gap left wide open and break thousands of hearts which ultimately started the Bulls’ run to three championships in four seasons.

Their return in Finals is a mere 20 percent after their European triumph last season.

 

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