Sharks United Rugby Championship 2026/27 Fixtures

The red flag for the Sharks is that they have lost on the road to every team they play away from home in next season’s United Rugby Championship.

Published

3 months ago

19th May 2026

Keo

Sharks United Rugby Championship 2026/27 Fixtures

The Sharks’ most difficult away fixture historically among this group has been the Stormers in Cape Town, where they have suffered four URC-era defeats. They did show this season that they can win in Cape Town and they completed the double over the Stormers on successive weekends, in Cape Town and in Durban.

Key historical trends from the first five URC seasons:

The Sharks have lost away to every team they will play away from home next season.
South African derby travel has been especially difficult:
- four away losses to the Stormers,
- two to the Bulls in Pretoria,
- two to the Lions at Ellis Park.
Ireland has also been challenging:
- two defeats away to Munster,
- one away loss to Ulster.
In Wales and Italy:
- one defeat to Cardiff,
- one to Scarlets,
- one to Benetton.
- one to Zebre
- Their away record overall has improved significantly in the latter URC seasons compared to the first two campaigns, particularly after their Challenge Cup-winning phase and the arrival of a stronger Springbok core

JP Pietersen was appointed coach midway through the season and the Sharks improved markedly. Pietersen also introduced several youngsters, who added zest to a strong last fortnight, in which the Sharks hammered Benetton 41-7 in Durban and Zebre 54-19.

Pietersen appointed Andre Esterhuizen as his captain and the big Springboks inside centre has been a revelation.