A powerful Hollywoodbets Sharks touring squad flies to Scotland this week ahead of their Vodacom United Rugby Championship two-match run in rounds 15 and 16.

They will meet Edinburgh on Friday night (8.30pm kick-off) at Hive Stadium, before heading to Ireland to take on Ulster in their final away match, ahead of two home games at Hollywoodbets Kings Park before the knockouts.

With the focus now solely on the VURC campaign and the push for a top four finish to the pool stages, Hollywoodbets Sharks head coach John Plumtree has selected possibly the strongest squad he has had available to him this season, as he welcomes back Springboks Eben Etzebeth, Grant Williams, Lukhanyo Am and Aphelele Fassi, the quartet having missed various parts of the season to injury, but are now back in the reckoning.

This tour represents an important juncture in the Hollywoodbets Sharks’ campaign as they look to wrestle precious log points away from home against two sides who are still well in the running for a top four finish [Ulster are currently sixth, while Edinburgh lie in eighth place].

The 16 forwards and 12 backs who answer the call of duty in the Black & White jersey are only too aware of the demands these final four weeks present, before the knockouts.

With everything to play for, and the possibility that a couple of external results go their way, every point they collect before the quarter-finals inches them closer to a home quarter-final, and possibly even a home semi-final.

But for now, a confident Edinburgh team awaits.

FORWARDS
Bongi Mbonambi
Eben Etzebeth
Emile van Heerden
Ethan Bester
Fezokuhle Mbatha
Hanro Jacobs
James Venter
Jason Jenkins
Manu Tshituka
Ntuthuko Mchunu
Ox Nche
Phepsi Buthelezi
Ruan Dreyer
Siya Kolisi
Vincent Koch
Vincent Tshituka

BACKS
Andre Esterhuizen
Aphelele Fassi
Bradley Davids
Ethan Hooker
Grant Williams
Jaden Hendrikse
Jordan Hendrikse
Jurenzo Julius
Lukhanyo Am
Makazole Mapimpi
Siya Masuku
Yaw Penxe