Springboks great JP Pietersen took over the reins on an interim basis following the 56-19 defeat to Toulouse in the Champions Cup, and there has been a notable uptick in performances and results.
The Sharks closed out 2025 with victories over Saracens and the Bulls in the first two post-John Plumtree fixtures. A narrow defeat to the Lions followed before an understrength team put up a good fight in a 26-10 loss to Sale Sharks.
However, the side has since won three matches on the trot, beating Clermont before back-to-back victories over the previously unbeaten Stormers in the URC.
According to Rapport, the team's performances under the 2007 Rugby World Cup-winning winger have made him the 'favourite' to be officially appointed as the head coach, removing the interim prefix.
Pietersen was involved in the Sharks' youth structures and was the Currie Cup team's head coach. There is an 'unexpected twist' according to the publication, as Plumtree could remain involved with the Sharks for another year in a consulting role.
This comes as a review of the structures in Durban, led by Sharks great and former Springbok Stefan Terblanche, ex-assistant coach Grant Bashford and the highly-regarded Alan Zondagh continues.
The publication also detailed a further update on the assistant coaches in Durban, with scrum coach Philip Lemmer expected to remain on the payroll, while the same is true for Neil Powell, though the latter's remit is expected to be adjusted.
The Sharks are locked in talks with defence coach Joey Mongalo around his future, the report adds, while attack coach Dave Williams could be replaced.
Zondagh's son AB is the 'only surprise package' according to Rapport, as he could return to Durban. The 39-year-old is currently employed by French Top 14 club Lyon but enjoyed a six-year spell at the Sharks before heading to Toulouse in 2019.
He also had a stint with Scotland before departing that position in October 2023 to link up with Lyon.
Marco Masotti, who is the controlling shareholder of the Sharks, spoke glowingly about Pietersen and said he wants to build something 'special' around him.
“What are we looking for now? JP Pietersen is the ideal person,” he told The Lekker Rugby Pod.
“He grew up at the Sharks, he's a World Cup winner, he cares deeply about the franchise, he's respected by senior Springboks, now, it's up to us to help him because this is an incredibly hard [job].”
Masotti added, “We had a number of issues at the Sharks, including the junior system and the senior system not being aligned and communicating well enough. JP knows a lot of the junior players, and you see that in some of the recent team selections…
Asked about the plan on Pietersen, he confirmed that Pietersen would be central in their decision-making: “We are not going to kick the can down the road. You are going to be hearing from us in early to mid-February about what we're doing going forward.
“What we're going to do is what's going to be right for JP because it's not just about him, it's a collection of coaches around him. We have Alan Zondagh around us helping with creating a rugby structure and plan in terms of how we're going to look at what the systems and processes are.”
“JP is a young coach, and we're going to do what's right for him ultimately,” he concluded.
Stormers captain Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu accepted responsibility after his side's second successive defeat to the Sharks, admitting a lack of discipline proved decisive in the 36-24 loss at Kings Park on Saturday.
Sharks coach JP Pietersen and captain Andre Esterhuizen were full of praise for their teammates after they handed the Stormers a second consecutive loss on Saturday.
The Sharks completed a rare coastal clean sweep in the United Rugby Championship on Saturday, beating the Stormers 36-24 at Kings Park to claim a second straight victory.
The Sharks are hungry to go back-to-back against the Stormers as they host the return leg of their United Rugby Championship derby in Durban on Saturday.
