Sharks’ Masotti backs Plumtree as interim consultant set to join team

The Sharks’ American boss, Marco Masotti, has come out in support of beleaguered coach John Plumtree and says help is on the way as the team negotiates a difficult start to the United Rugby Championship.

The Durban team has won just one of their opening five games and, last week,

Masotti announced that Plumtree will step down as head coach at the end of the 2025-26 season. An interim technical consultant is to come in to assist.

“The idea is to bring in an experienced person to help and offer fresh ideas and experience,” Masotti said. “John Plumtree fully supports this initiative and will have a say in the appointment and how that person is used.”

The Sharks are understood to be talking to Brendan Venter, a wily advisor who has previously consulted the Sharks. Ironically, in 2013, Venter spent a season coaching the Sharks to Currie Cup glory after Plumtree had been sacked by then CEO John Smit at the end of 2012.

Masotti says that Plumtree can add value before he moves into a “mentorship and advisory role” next year.

“We wanted to adjust our system in the early part of the season rather than blow it up,” he said from New York. “We want to be successful this season. Next season, we’ll have a structure in place that allows us to keep growing.”

Masotti, who grew up in the KZN south coast town of Amanzimtoti, is optimistic about the team’s future.

“I appreciate that it’s been difficult for our coaches,” he said of the issue of many of his players being away on Springbok duty.

“We’ve also got a tough run of games coming up (away games against Connacht in the URC and Toulouse in the Champions Cup), and will have to be strategic about how we use the squad.

“But we have high ambitions and expect the team to perform.”