EXCLUSIVE | I talk the Sharks language, I love the brand, says new skipper Vincent Tshituka

Vincent Tshituka admits it took him a while to feel at home at the Sharks after a life in Johannesburg, but now he lives and breathes Kings Park.

The elder Tshituka brother is the new captain of the Sharks side that left for Glasgow on Monday night for a three-match United Rugby Championship tour, which kicks off against Glasgow Warriors on Friday.

The 27-year-old came to South Africa from the Democratic Republic of Congo when he was four, and Northcliff in Johannesburg was his home until he left the Lions for the Sharks midway through 2022.

“It took me a while to feel at home, but I definitely am there now. I learned the Sharks language, I speak it, and I love the brand,” he said.

But it is not just about his own comfort, Tshituka added.

“We have quite a few more faces this season. Some guys have joined us on loan, and there are new signings.

"It is about getting them to feel at home as quickly as possible, and to make playing for the Sharks feel normal. The Sharks’ way must become second nature, and the tour will help that.”

After facing the Warriors, the Sharks travel to the Dragons before finishing the tour in Dublin against Leinster.

“Touring allows you to bond and get a tightness in the group that you would not have if not on tour,” Tshituka explained.

“You spend a lot more hours with the guys. You are kind of at work 24 hours a day. It allows you to build those inter-player relationships. It is just us, and we can connect and build together for the season.”

Tshituka says he is honoured to walk in the boots of famous Sharks captains.

“It will always be a privilege to captain the Sharks, to be given the responsibility of leading this team,” he said.

“I want to go out and be contagious in my leadership, not so much in my words but in my actions. I want to set a very high standard for myself, and for the team to chase.

“It is a nice little tour. We have prepped hard as a team, are in the right frame of mind, and are looking to walk away with some points on the log.”

He also stressed that he will not be carrying the captaincy burden alone.

“There are senior guys with me in Lukhanyo Am, Jaden Hendrikse, and Francois Venter, while Phepsi Buthelezi has captained the Sharks before. There are guys that I can fall back on. Leadership is never a one-man journey. You need the buy-in from everyone, you need a hub.

“More than anything, I must set a standard that we can all chase, and all look to hit the mark every time.”

It has been a memorable year for Vincent and his brother Manu. They finally received their South African citizenship, while Vincent also made his Springbok debut.

“I did a dance when the citizenship came through,” he said.

“It has been a heck of a year, and I have been hugely blessed. As cool as it was to get my citizenship, that did not make me a Springbok. It just allowed me to be in the race to be a Bok.

“And getting my first cap was a massive high in my life. I will never forget it. And two weeks later I got married — that was the best day of my life, so this year is one for the books.”