'He is available': Sharks could field a legend if crisis emerges
SPOTLIGHT: Sharks head coach JP Pietersen believes his backline players, especially the centres, are in safe hands as they prepare for their United Rugby Championship opener against the Ospreys in Durban.
Earlier this week, the club unveiled a huge squad of 67 players for the new season, including All Blacks legend Ma’a Nonu.
The 44-year-old joined the Sharks as a “mentor’ in July, but his playing boots will be ready if a crisis emerges in the midfield.
Nonu has already featured for the Sharks against the All Blacks in a midweek match during the Greatest Rivalry series last month.
“He is available if we get a lot of serious injuries, but at the moment we are all good,” Pietersen told reporters after the unveiling of his squad.
“As you know, we have Suleiman Hartzenberg who has joined us from the Stormers, and we have Jurenzo [Julius] and Murray Koster in the centres with Lili Bester.”
Pietersen also touched on Nonu’s main role and the impact he is having on the youngsters in the squad.
“He is still the mentor, and he is helping the centres. It’s going extremely well – he brings them in every morning and helps them with their preparation and their skill sets.
“I think they have a 06.30 class every morning where the centres get together.
“He’s also a massive help for a player like [Zekhethelo] Siyaya, just to upskill him and just to speed up the process of learning faster and gaining experience off the field before he gets on the field.”
A solid blend between youth and experience 🔥https://t.co/E8tkgYVOTN
ADVERTISEMENT— Rugby365 (@rugby365com) September 16, 2026
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