Sharks
Sport	Rugby union
Competition	Super 14
Year founded	1996
Region	Durban KwaZulu-Natal Province
Team colours	Grey & Black
Stadium	Kings Park Stadium
Captain	John Smit
Coach	Dick Muir
2006 position	5th
Website	Sharks Website

The Sharks are a South African Rugby Union team competing in the Super 14 competition (Super 12 from 1996-2005.They are based in Durban and centred around the Natal Sharks union, also based in Durban and drawing players from all of KwaZulu-Natal Province. Sharks rugby club logo This is a copyrighted and/or trademarked logo. ... General phase play in rugby union. ... The current Super 14 logo The Super 14 is a rugby union championship competed for by teams from New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... Central area of Durban Durban is a city in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. ... KwaZulu-Natal, often referred to as KZN, is a province of South Africa. ... Grey or gray (see spelling differences) is a colour seen commonly in nature. ... BLACK is a first-person shooter for PlayStation 2 and Xbox, developed by Criterion Software and published by Electronic Arts. ... Kings Park Stadium is a football stadium in Durban, South Africa which was originally built in 1891 and renovated in 1990. ... John William Smit (born 3 April, 1978 in Pietersburg, South Africa) is the 51st and current captain of the South African national rugby union team, the Springboks. ... General phase play in rugby union. ... The current Super 14 logo The Super 14 is a rugby union championship competed for by teams from New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. ... Central area of Durban Durban is a city in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. ... KwaZulu-Natal, often referred to as KZN, is a province of South Africa. ...

Through 2005, they drew players from the two unions based in Eastern Cape Province, the Mighty Elephants (Port Elizabeth) and the Bulldogs (East London), but those unions became the core of the new Southern Spears franchise that was formed in 2006 and was originally intended to enter the Super 14 in 2007. However, the Spears have since been denied entry into the Super 14. 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Eastern Cape is a province of South Africa. ... Port Elizabeth is a city in South Africa, situated in the Eastern Cape Province, at 33°58′ S 25°36′ E. The city is located on Algoa Bay, and is one of the major seaports in South Africa. ... East London (Afrikaans: Oos-Londen, Xhosa: Imonti) is a city in southeast South Africa, situated in the Eastern Cape Province at 32. ... The Southern Spears, a South African Super 14 rugby union franchise, will begin play in that competition in 2007. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) will be a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In 1996 and 1997 South Africa was represented in the Super 12 by their four top unions rather than franchises, and Natal qualified and competed both years.

They have never won the Super 12 competition, but have reached the final twice, as Natal in 1996 and as the Sharks in 2001.

After being called the Banana Boys for a century, it was time for a change. The Sharks branding was the brain child of Terry Kukle, the owner of Tag International. After assessing international marketing trends, Kukle presented this strategy to the council of the Natal Rugby Union. After many meetings a decision was finally made to go ahead with the new branding. The local press at first were very hesitant to accept the new name and branding, but after a very successful season and great products and promotions the Sharks were embraced by all.

The local press at first were very hesitant to accept the new name and branding and fans were polarised by the radical proposed change that flew in the face of rugby tradition and convention. After much controversy in the media (which very rapidly brought the proposed brand to everyone's attention) and a very successful season supported by great products and promotions the Sharks were embraced by all.

The Sharks' marketing has been widely acknowledged in marketing and rugby circles as best practice and included as a successful case study in many marketing text books. The current team captain is hooker and Springboks captain John Smit. The Springboks, Bokke or Amabokoboko are the South African national rugby union team. ...

Super 12/14 positions

The Auckland Blues is a New Zealand rugby union team based in Auckland, New Zealand, and representing the Northland, North Harbour and Auckland unions. ... The Auckland Blues is a New Zealand rugby union team based in Auckland, New Zealand, and representing the Northland, North Harbour and Auckland unions. ... The Crusaders (formerly the Canterbury Crusaders) are a New Zealand Rugby Union team based in Christchurch, New Zealand, Jade Stadium, and representing the Buller, Tasman, West Coast, Canterbury, Mid Canterbury and South Canterbury unions. ... The Brumbies (formerly known as the ACT Brumbies, for sponsorship reasons referred to as CA Brumbies) are a Super 14 rugby union team based in Canberra, Australia and named for the wild horses which inhabit Canberras hinterland. ...

External links

• Official site
• Datas and statistics itsrugby.com