The Hollywoodbets Sharks host Leinster in one of their biggest tests of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship this season, looking to continue to make fortress Hollywoodbets Kings Park a tough place to visit.
The four South African teams will enter the weekend desperate to register victories as the Vodacom United Rugby Championship reaches boiling point with 15 of the 16 teams still in contention for playoff places with only five games left to book their quarter-final spots.
It was a largely satisfying weekend for South Africa’s teams in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship as three of the four side – the Vodacom Bulls, Hollywoodbets Sharks and DHL Stormers – came away with victories to boost their playoff hopes, while the Emirates Lions managed to secure a losing bonus point away from home to remain within striking range of the top eight.
The Hollywoodbets Sharks held their nerve in a hard-fought Vodacom United Rugby Championship derby against the Emirates Lions in Durban to consolidate their fourth place on the standings with six regular pool matches remaining and claim the SA Shield for the first time.
The Emirates Lions and DHL Stormers added a tinge of drama to the home straight of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship with stunning victories over the Hollywoodbets Sharks and Vodacom Bulls in Gauteng to create a massive logjam at the bottom half of the standings and throw the competition wide open with six rounds of regular pool matches remaining.
The Hollywoodbets Sharks, Vodacom Bulls and DHL Stormers will not only have log points in mind, but they will have their sights set firmly on securing pole position in the race for the SA Shield as the Vodacom United Rugby Championship reaches round 12 this weekend.
The Hollywoodbets Sharks welcome back a few players to balance those lost to injury as they turn their focus to the Vodacom United Rugby Championship and their week 10 clash with Cardiff Rugby at Cardiff Arms Park on Saturday.
Double World Cup winning Springbok scrumhalf Cobus Reinach will boost the Stormers squad when he joins the fold ahead of the 2025/26 season.
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The Sharks will be without Springboks Eben Etzebeth, Vincent Koch, Jordan Hendrikse and Makazole Mapimpi for the away game against French club team Bordeaux Bègles in the Champions Cup on Sunday and possibly also the clash a week later against Cardiff in the United Rugby Championship.
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