Sharks Line Up Du Preez As Kolisi Replacement

Sportswire has learned that the Hollywoodbets Sharks are set to sign Dan du Preez as a replacement for outgoing global icon Siya Kolisi.

The Sharks will lose Kolisi at the end of the season, with the Springbok captain expected to join a Cape Town-based side, DHL Stormers. Kolisi has previously revealed that it has been difficult living in Durban away from his young family.

Although the decision was made reluctantly, the Sharks sanctioned Kolisi’s move, allowing him to return to his former club at the end of the current campaign.

With Kolisi set to depart, the Sharks have turned their attention to Du Preez, who previously represented the Durban-based franchise from 2014 to 2019.

The experienced back-row forward is currently playing for Sale Sharks in England — coincidentally the same opponents the Sharks are due to face in Manchester this weekend in the Investec Champions Cup.

“The Sharks have identified Dan du Preez as Kolisi’s replacement,” a source confirmed.

Kolisi, who featured in his familiar No. 6 role, was one of the try scorers during the Sharks’ 23–22 defeat to the Emirates Lions in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) at Kings Park Stadium on Saturday.

Renowned for his ability to exploit space in the final third, the two-time Rugby World Cup winner was unlucky not to score a second try, knocking the ball forward just short of the line.

It proved to be a frustrating afternoon for the Sharks, who failed to capitalise despite playing 30 minutes with a numerical advantage after Lions flanker Ruan Venter was sin-binned before his yellow card was upgraded to a 20-minute red card.

The Lions made a fast start, scoring two tries within the opening 10 minutes and putting the Sharks under immediate pressure.

Sharks interim coach JP Pietersen was left rueful about his side’s slow start, which ultimately cost them the match.

“As I said, if we start better, we give ourselves a better chance to win games and close them out,” Pietersen said, as he suffered his first defeat since taking over as Sharks coach.

The loss leaves the Sharks 14th on the URC standings with 14 points after eight matches.