Seven overseas stars who represented the Sharks including a Springboks coach, ‘The Magician’ and legendary France trio

After the recent news of the Sharks acquiring the services of legendary All Blacks centre Ma’a Nonu, we take a closer look at seven other overseas players who have had stints with the Durban-based outfit.

The United Rugby Championship franchise confirmed the arrival of Nonu last weekend and he will be extending his career despite his advancing age.

At 44 years old, he will be tasked with developing the young players at the Sharks as well as assisting the team in building their club culture.

There is plenty of excitement among Sharks fans about Nonu‘s arrival, and he will follow in the footsteps of a long list of foreigners who have represented the club over the years.

Remember, our list consists exclusively of overseas-born players, which rules out the likes of Zimbabwean-born Springboks like Tendai “The Beast” Mtawarira, Gary Teichmann, and Bob Skinstad.

Without further ado, here is our list of those players.

Frederic Michalak

Arguably the most successful of the Sharks’ overseas signings, the France playmaker had two successful stints with the men from Durban after first joining them from Top 14 heavyweights Toulouse in 2008.

After making his debut for the Sharks in Super Rugby, Michalak went on to make nine appearances in the famous Southern Hemisphere tournament before his season was curtailed due to injury.

He made a full recovery and played a prominent role in the Sharks’ triumphant 2008 Currie Cup campaign before returning to Toulouse. In 2011, he returned to the Sharks, and although he was primarily a fly-half, he filled in at scrum-half in the Currie Cup after injuries to several players in the latter position.

The 77-Test international went on to shine at fly-half for the Sharks during the 2012 Super Rugby season and helped them reach the final, where they eventually lost to the Chiefs. He returned to France and had further stints with Toulouse, Toulon and Lyon before retiring in 2018.

After his retirement as a player, Michalak went into coaching. But, after spells as an assistant coach at Toulon and Racing 92, it was revealed earlier this month that he had joined the backroom staff at NRL outfit Cronulla Sharks.

Juan Martín Hernández

The former Argentina backline star was known as “El Mago” or “The Magician” as he possessed a brilliant all-round skill-set and he enjoyed a brief but memorable stint with the Sharks during the 2009 season.

Equally adept at fly-half, full-back or in midfield, Hernández made nine appearances for the Sharks in South Africa’s famous Currie Cup competition and also served in a coaching capacity at the club, developing their up-and-coming players at grassroots level.

However, Hernández and the Sharks were forced to part ways when he suffered a back injury which ruled him out of their 2010 Super Rugby campaign.

Prior to joining the Sharks, he played for Top 14 outfit Stade Français, and after leaving Durban he returned to France where he had stints at Racing 92 and Toulon before finishing his career with the Jaguares in Argentina in 2018, eventually making 74 Test appearances for Los Pumas over 15 years.

John Plumtree

Although he had a long association as a coach with the Sharks and also had stints as part of the All Blacks and Ireland’s backroom staff, Plumtree initially made his name in the game as a player and enjoyed an extensive period with the men from Durban, whom he represented as a flanker and lock between 1988 and 1997.

Plumtree was born in New Zealand and played for Taranaki in the National Provincial Championship (NPC) from 1985 to 1988 before moving to Durban, where he turned out for the old Natal.

In 1992, he headed back to New Zealand and made 14 appearances for Hawke’s Bay at provincial level before returning to Natal the following year, eventually making 80 appearances for the Sharks.

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Tony Brown

Currently serving as part of the Springboks’ coaching staff and widely regarded as one of the best attacking minds in the game, former All Blacks fly-half Brown joined the Sharks on a short-term basis in 2006.

This was after he was contacted by former Sharks head coach Dick Muir, who asked him to fill in for injured Springboks playmaker Butch James during the team’s Super Rugby campaign.

Brown, who had played the bulk of his career at the Highlanders in New Zealand and also represented Sanyo Wild Knights in Japan, made eight appearances for the Sharks in 2006 before heading back to Japan, although he would return to South Africa for another short spell with the Stormers in 2008.

After serving as a player-coach with Sanyo Wild Knights in 2011, Brown retired before taking up coaching on a full-time basis, and he had successful stints with Japan’s national team, the Highlanders, Sunwolves and Otago before starting in his current position with the Boks.

Gregor Townsend

Former Scotland and British & Irish Lions fly-half Townsend had successful stints at various clubs like Border Reivers, Northampton, Brive and Castres before he arrived in Durban to play for the Sharks in 2004.

At the age of 31, Townsend was a seasoned international at the time and joined the Sharks after announcing his retirement from international rugby at the end of 2003.

He was used mostly as backup to the Sharks’ first-choice number 10 Butch James, and after making nine appearances he joined French club Montpellier, who he represented in 2004 and 2005 before eventually returning to Border Reivers, where he played as a player-coach until his retirement in 2007.

Townsend is currently Scotland’s head coach after previously being in charge of Glasgow Warriors, and he was also an assistant coach with the British & Irish Lions during their tour to South Africa in 2021.

Thierry Lacroix

After playing a leading role for France during their run to the 1995 Rugby World Cup semi-finals in South Africa, the former fly-half joined the Sharks and was one of their star performers for two successive seasons.

A brilliant attacking player and accurate goal-kicker, Lacroix, who started his club career at Dax in France, helped the Sharks to victory against Western Province in the 1995 Currie Cup final.

As part of a star-studded Sharks line-up which included 1995 Rugby World Cup winners Andre Joubert, James Small and Mark Andrews, Lacroix led the Sharks to a 25-17 victory, contributing 20 points courtesy of six penalties and a conversion.

Lacroix, who made 43 appearances for France, also helped the Sharks to win the 1996 Currie Cup final, and after leaving the Durban-based outfit he had stints with Harlequins and Saracens in England before returning to France where he represented Perpignan and Castres before retiring in 2004.

Olivier Roumat

The former Les Bleus second-row joined Lacroix at the Sharks in 1995 but only stayed for one season and played a crucial role during their triumphant campaign in the Currie Cup.

An excellent lineout exponent and tireless grafter, who also played on the flank and at number eight, Roumat was at the forefront of Les Bleus’ forward effort during the 1995 Rugby World Cup.

His impressive performances at the global showpiece caught the attention of the Sharks’ bosses, and after the tournament he joined countryman Lacroix at the Durban-based outfit.

After completing his only season with the Sharks, Roumat returned to his French club Dax before also playing for Stade Français and Biarritz until he called time on his playing career in 2003. He is the father of France and Toulouse back-rower Alexandre Roumat.

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