Sharks Appoint JP Pietersen As Head Coach
Sharks controlling owner Marco Masotti has confirmed the appointment of JP Pietersen as the club’s head coach.
Pietersen, who won the Rugby World Cup with the South Africa national rugby union team in 2007, had been serving in an interim capacity following the departure of John Plumtree.
The former Springbok winger has impressed since taking charge, guiding the Sharks through a strong run of form and suffering just one defeat at home — against the Lions in the United Rugby Championship. Coincidentally, the Sharks will face the same opponents away from home next weekend.
Masotti, who was born in Amanzimtoti and is now based in New York, confirmed Pietersen’s permanent appointment in an open letter addressing the coach’s role and outlining the club’s commitment and vision for its supporters.
Rugby has shaped much of my life. Some of my earliest memories are in the stands at Hollywoodbets Kings Park – watching this team, feeling the energy of the crowd, and understanding what The Sharks meant to Durban and its surrounding communities.
When I became involved with our club, it was never simply about ownership. It was about stewardship. The Sharks represent history, expectation and responsibility. I have always believed we should aim to build something that is not just competitive but is special.
Over the past few seasons, you have stood with us through moments of challenge and moments of progress. Your support has been constant. That loyalty deserves transparency and ambition in return.
The changes we have announced including the appointment of JP Pietersen as permanent Head Coach, the addition of Scott Mathie, and the strengthening of our rugby leadership structure are deliberate.
We have seen tangible improvement under JP’s leadership. There is greater clarity, stronger standards, and a renewed edge within the squad. These decisions are designed to build on that momentum, not reset it.
At the executive team level, we have also strengthened our structure to ensure that rugby performance is supported by commercial discipline and strategic growth. A modern club must be high-performing on the field and sustainable off it. Those two priorities are inseparable.
We want to be special. Our goal is to build a rugby business that ensures that The Sharks compete for a trophy in every competition we play in, particularly the Investec Champions Cup and, in time, a potential global World Club Cup. Competing at that level requires more than ambition. It requires structure, process, planning, and cultural alignment.
Our long-term plan (which I call Operation Isandlwana) addresses the many facets and challenges of our rugby business. It draws on the history of The Sharks and our unique culture, while positioning our club for the future. It is a living framework, one that will evolve as we learn and grow, but its guiding principles remain constant:
• Thinking differently and challenging convention
• Building high-performance structures and disciplined processes
• Embedding data and analytics throughout the organisation
• Elevating work ethic and accountability
• Seeking humble, respectful and driven people
• Striving relentlessly for a winning culture.
This is not rhetoric. It is the standard we are holding ourselves to.
I understand the expectations that come with our black and white jersey. We are not satisfied with occasional success. Our objective is consistency in the United Rugby Championship, in Europe and in every arena where the team competes.
Most importantly, our club belongs to its supporters. The Sharks are special because of you. The black and white carries meaning because of you. Every step we take is guided by the belief that we must build a rugby club worthy of that support.
We are building deliberately. We are building responsibly. And we are building with the intention of making The Sharks a world-class rugby organisation that honours its heritage while confidently shaping its future.
Thank you for standing with us. Go Sharks!!!
