New era confirmed as Sharks appoint JP Pietersen as permanent head coach

The former Springbok took over from John Plumtree off the back of a disastrous run form last year and has begun to turn things around at the franchise, winning five out of his first seven matches in charge as interim coach. Notably, Pietersen's Sharks recently went back-to-back over United Rugby Championship high flyers the Stormers.

"This jersey has shaped who I am," said the World Cup winner at the announcement on Wednesday.

"The Sharks have given me everything in my career, so to be entrusted with leading this team is something I do not take lightly. I am incredibly proud, but more than that, I am hungry to keep pushing this group forward."

Sharks Chief Executive Officer Shaun Bryans threw his support behind Pietersen.

"JP'™s appointment is a natural progression and a decision we are extremely confident in," he said.

"He has proven that he is the right man for the job, building on the strong foundations laid down by his predecessor.  This is the start of a new and exciting era of Sharks Rugby, founded on mutual respect, passion and pride in what this jersey has meant over the years and what it will continue to stand for.  JP has brought a renewed focus on clarity, accountability and strong alignment within the playing group. Performance matters, and the improvement we have seen over the past two months is measurable and tangible.

"More importantly, he understands the standards and identity of this organisation. This appointment provides stability while allowing us to continue building a clear and consistent performance model."

Joining Pietersen in the coaching box from next season is another former Shark, Scott Mathie, who has been plying his trade with Edinburgh as attack coach. Meanwhile, Neil Powell has been appointed Head of Junior Rugby.

The Sharks' controlling owner, Marco Masotti, added that the Sharks have lofty goals for the future.

"We want to be special," he said.

"Our goal is a rugby business that ensures that The Sharks compete for a trophy in every competition that we play in, including the Champions Cup and likely World Club Cup. Our High Performance Plan addresses the many facets and challenges of our rugby business. It draws on the storied history of The Sharks and our unique culture and ambition to take our club into the future."

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