Sharks re-sign Bongi Mbonambi and Vincent Koch, invest in Junior Springbok hooker Mnebelele

The Sharks will hang on to their old guard front-rowers for a little longer, with Springboks Bongi Mbonambi and Vincent Koch signing contract extensions.

This week, the Sharks host Munster in a United Rugby Championship fixture, and they need the veterans to help lead the way as the Durbanites tackle the mountain that is their challenge to make the URC Top 8.

Probably a big reason for the Sharks keeping on the 35-year-old Mbonambi and Koch (36) is that they can mentor the big contingent of Junior Springboks on their books. Among that number is the highly-rated hooker Esethu Mnebelele, who has been at the Bulls but is en route to the Sharks.

The Sharks have also announced contract extensions for Junior Boks in flank Matt Romao and lock Coetzee Le Roux. Double Rugby World Cup-winning Boks Mbonambi and Koch will remain at the Shark Tank until the end of the 2027/2028 season after signing two-year deals.

Romao and Coetzee have extended their stay in Durban until the end of the 2028/29 campaign.

Former Stormers stalwart Mbonambi joined the Sharks ahead of the 2021/22 season and has played 60 times for the club.

Koch joined the Sharks from Stade Francais in 2023/24 and would have earned more than his 34 caps had he not had a series of injuries.

There has been a lot of hype about Mnebelele, and he is very much on Rassie Erasmus’s radar. The former SA Schools captain (he is a product of Joburg school KES) recently did stellar duty for the Junior Boks in Georgia.

The Sharks have been looking for a hooker since Dylan Richardson left for Edinburgh. They were interested in Marnus van der Merwe and have invested in Eduan Swart (on loan from the Pumas), but Mnebelele is a big coup.

They also have promising 22-year-old Westville Boys High product, Bryce Calvert.