By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Sharks head coach Sean Everitt has stepped down from his post just 24 hours after his team suffered a humiliating 35-0 defeat to Cardiff at Kings Park
In a statement Sharks the Sharks CEO, Eduard Coetzee, said, this decision has been made in the best interests of the team moving forward and Director of Rugby, Neil Powell, will oversee the remainder of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship campaign as well as our first foray in the Heineken Champions Cup, which kicks off on the 10th of December. Neil will be ably supported by the rest of our current senior coaching structure, which remains unchanged.”
The latest development comes as the Sharks were navigating their new coaching structure, which included the promotion of former Blitzboks head coach Powell from defence coach to director of rugby.
Coetzee added: “We thank Sean for his invaluable contribution to The Sharks over the past few years, especially navigating through a challenging Covid-19 period. He will always remain a part of The Sharks family. I would like to take this opportunity to wish him and his family the very best moving forward.”
Everitt’s history at The Sharks dates to 2008, when he was appointed as an assistant in a Currie Cup winning year, and he has successfully come through the ranks being involved in five Currie Cup finals. He notably coached the unbeaten Cell C Sharks Under 19s to the SA Rugby Under 19 Championship title in 2018, and thereafter he assumed the role as head coach of the 2020 Super Rugby campaign, where they were top of the log when Covid brought an abrupt end to the campaign.
He has served the union faithfully as a junior and then senior coach and navigated the team to two Currie Cup finals and their first Vodacom United Rugby Championship season in 2021/22, which saw them ending fifth on the log out of 16 teams and qualifying for the Heineken Champions Cup.
Everitt said in the statement, “this is a sad development for me and sometimes the results don’t always match the tireless effort that has been put in.
“I have been a part of this union for close on 15 years and I’ve always had the best interests of this team at heart. I leave with no regrets.”
“I would like to thank The Sharks for the great memories and the wonderful opportunities that has been given to me at the helm of this fantastic team. I wish The Sharks every success, as the season progresses.”