Kolisi returns for Sharks 50th by playing off the bench

Siya Kolisi is back in Hollywoodbets Sharks colours for the occasion of his 50th appearance for the Durban club as they tackle Edinburgh in their 16th round Vodacom URC clash at The Hive on Friday night.

The Springbok captain has been out for a while nursing a calf injury but has been cleared to play in what is likely to be one of his final appearances for the Sharks before he returns to the DHL Stormers in the off-season. Coach JP Pietersen said last week that he was ready to play against the Ospreys but would be given an extra week to be ready as a precaution.

That is a half-a-century of caps in the colours of the Sharks for Siya Kolisi 🖤

Fifty times wearing the badge with honour

Siya-bulela Gqwashu! pic.twitter.com/RDmzzeOFmu — The Sharks (@SharksRugby) April 23, 2026

Pietersen has kept changes from the side that lost 21-17 in Bridgend last weekend to a minimum, although there has been an interesting change to the midfield - skipper Andre Esterhuizen has switched from inside centre to outside centre to accommodate Siya Masuku, who is normally a flyhalf, in the No12 jersey.

Ethan Hooker was injured last week in a much publicised incident while scoring a try and has been replaced by fellow Bok Makazole Mapimpi. The Namibian international Le Roux Malan was also injured against the Ospreys, which explains why Masuku comes into his unfamiliar position in the midfield, with Marnus Potgieter filling the role of centre cover from the bench. Masuku will obviously be the backup flyhalf.

There have been no changes to the pack, with Pietersen clearly backing continuity for a game which offers the Sharks their last albeit very slender chance of keeping their hopes of qualifying for next year’s Investec Champions Cup alive.

The chance was put at 10 percent by defence coach Joey Mongalo last week and he is probably spot on with that assessment - in other words the Sharks are mathematically still alive but their chance couldn’t be regarded as realistic.

The kids have taken over this week’s team release ✏️@Vodacom #URC | #KidsRound pic.twitter.com/lzgd6KKWFp — The Sharks (@SharksRugby) April 23, 2026

The unchanged starting pack means that Ox Nche and Vincent Koch will again be playing off the bench, with Pietersen clearly hopeful that he won’t be caught out again by the opposition having players injured so that by the time those players come onto the field uncontested scrums are called.

Hollywoodbets Sharks team: Zekhetheolo Siyaya, Edwill van der Merwe, Andre Esterhuizen (captain), Makazole Mapimpi, Jean Smith, Jaden Hendrikse, Emmanuel Tshituka, Vincent Tshituka, Phepsi Buthelezi, Emile van Heerden, Jason Jenkins, Hanro Jacobs, Fez Mbatha, Phatu Ganyane.

Replacements: Eduan Swart, Ox Nche, Vincent Koch, Corne Rahl, Nick Hatton, Siya Kolisi, Bradley Davids, Marnus Potgieter.