By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Sharks have announced that head coach John Plumtree will step down at the end of the 2025/26 season as part of a broader restructuring.
In a statement on Wednesday afternoon, Sharks stated Plumtree would move into an “advisory and mentorship” role to a new coach next season.
The statement was vague and also contradictory, for in one breath it spoke about the Sharks bosses having faith in the coach and him having their full backing, in the next it spoke of bringing an outsider in as a technical director to help with the game-plan.
Then in another it stated he would be leaving the franchise at the end of the season but yet was still trusted enough to mentor his successor.
Former Bulls coach Jake White came out in defence of Plumtree, saying South African rugby has a flawed system that makes life very difficult for provincial coaches.
“What has happened with Plum is another red flag for me around a problem that is ultimately going to cost South African rugby, because the franchise level of the game is going to end up dying,” White told SuperSport.
“I’m out of the system now, but I know well that you can’t juggle three competitions while there ae key players in your team who need to have a mandatory eight-week resting period during those competitions, and you have players managing themselves. Pressure is put on you by player unions if you’re seen not to handle them correctly.”
“The coach is expected to be hardworking and committed, but the reality is that there are so many obstacles in your way — like no limit on overseas-based players being allowed to play for the Springboks; a salary cap you have to adhere to; a maximum of 56 contracted players; and Regulation 9 being ignored with the Boks playing outside of the international window. How can you build a crackerjack team to compete under those circumstances?
“In Plumtree’s defence, he has very little access to his top players and doesn’t work with them at all during the pre-season.”
White, who took the Bulls to three United Rugby Championship finals, believes it’s extremely difficult for franchise coaches to get the best out of Springbok players who will always have one eye on their national commitments.