The Sharks have named five coaches for their 2026 Craven Week campaign — a move that some seasoned rugby observers around the country have already described as excessive. Budget constraints are usually a major consideration for most Youth Week teams, with parents often footing a substantial portion of the touring costs. However, if the Sharks have the resources to fund such an extensive management group and the coaches can find cohesion, it could help turn around their disappointing 2025 showing at the premier interprovincial schools rugby event. That underwhelming performance may well have been a factor in Peter Engledow taking over the reins from Dusty Noble (Westville).
SHARKS HIGH SCHOOLS TEAM MANAGEMENT 2026
U18 CRAVEN WEEK
✓ Head Coach: Peter Engledow (DHS)
✓ Assistant Coach: Kwanele Ngema (Kearsney)
✓ Assistant Coach: Ronnie Uys (DHS)
✓ Assistant Coach: Flash Malinga (Maritzburg College)
✓ Assistant Coach: Derek Heiberg (DHS)
✓ Manager: Divesh Sookdeo (Kearsney)
✓ S & C Coach: Sebenza Mapumulo (Westville)
U18 KZN XV
✓ Head Coach: Hennie Pretorius (Richards Bay)
✓ Assistant Coach: Romeo Rachidi (Amanzimtoti)
✓ Assistant Coach: Dylan Kroon (Wembley College)
✓ Manager: Qiniso Zondi (Escourt High School)
U18 GIRLS WEEK
✓ Head Coach: Monwabisi Pina (DHS)
✓ Assistant Coach: Karthy Dludla (Our Lady of Fatima)
✓ Assistant Coach: Michael van Wyk (Kuswag)
✓ Manager: Dineo Fihlela (Kearsney)
U17 ACADEMY WEEK
✓ Head Coach: Kelvin Elder (Maritzburg College)
✓ Assistant Coach: Lyle Matthysen (DHS)
✓ Assistant Coach: Burger Nel (Hilton)
✓ Manager: Agreement Sikhosana (Port Shepstone)
U17 AFGRI WEEK
✓ Head Coach: Mpumelelo Zondi (Greytown)
✓ Assistant Coach: Sibusiso Mkhaliphi (DHS)
✓ Assistant Coach: Ruan Lombard (Glenwood)
✓ Manager: Shaun Blignaut (Curro Salt Rock)
U17 SEVENS
✓ Head Coach: Naseeb Abrahams (Northwood)
✓ Assistant Coach: Zander Erasmus (Westville)
✓ Manager: Siya Mbanga (Ashton)
U16 GRANT KHOMO
✓ Head Coach: Naseeb Abrahams (Northwood)
✓ Assistant Coach: Grant Ball (Michaelhouse)
✓ Assistant Coach: Jacques Deen (Northwood)
✓ Assistant Coach: Yanga Sotshangane (Northwood)
✓ Manager: Thobani Majola (St Charles)
✓ S & C Coach: Thobani Majola (St Charles)
U16 XV
✓ Head Coach: Cameron Fraser (Hilton)
✓ Assistant Coach: Bright Lembede (Northwood)
✓ Assistant Coach: Zander Erasmus (Westville)
✓ Manager: Sifiso Shabangu (Curro Salt Rock)
U16 GIRLS WEEK
✓ Head Coach: Nhlanhla Bulose (Westville)
✓ Assistant Coach: Bianca van Wyk (Kuswag)
✓ Assistant Coach: Phatheka Dzanibe (KZNRU)
✓ Manager: Bonakele Ngcobo (Dabeka)
U15 RHINO WEEK
✓ Head Coach: Heinke van der Merwe (Clifton)
✓ Assistant Coach: Siya Mpumlo (Riverwood College)
✓ Assistant Coach: Ruan van Rensburg (Kloof)
✓ Manager: Siya Mbanga (Ashton)
@star (Comment #6)
Nice one star, yes, especially when there is animosity between the schools & they don’t play each other. It’s just wrong. Heiberg at DHS is wrong too…
@Grasshopper (Comment #4)
I don’t often agree with you Grassy but in this instance I do. The fact that GW still do not play their traditional rival DHS implies there is still a huge negative undercurrent. Why play into this space if you don’t have to even if it is on a perception basis.
Northwood with 3 in the GK team, again just wrong…
@beet (Comment #3)
Sorry Beet, spin it like you wish, 3x DHS coaches in the main side is a mafia. If there are 7 coaches (far too many), it should be one from each of the top schools to make it fair.
@Grasshopper (Comment #2)
I think the motive of everyone should be to want a system that is fair to all players, not just those from their own school. Within that, people need to realise that selections at all levels are subjective — and that’s not limited to rugby.
True story: I went to the final trials in either 2013 or 2014. To me, Westville centre Brad Ellse was hands down the best centre at Woodburn that day, but he didn’t get a look in. I obviously felt the process was biased when he wasn’t picked. Brad was a naughty kid, but he could jol. Lizwe Mtetwa was just as unlucky, although he was fortunate enough to be selected for SA U18. This is something else I’ve never quite understood — how a player can miss out on Craven Week but still make SA U18, unless that player was injured during trials.
Anyway, KZN has come a long way in the last decade, and the selection system does feel like it’s ahead of most other provinces in terms of fairness. But that doesn’t mean people should rest on their laurels. There’s still plenty of incentive for those with ulterior motives — such as lining their own pockets — to take advantage if others just stand back and allow corruption to seep in.
Coaches and rugby officials who sign up for this work should do so with the intention of doing what’s best for KZN and The Sharks, not by serving their own school’s interests. All with the power to influence changes, should work towards putting an end to the stories of school officials misusing their positions to promise boys places in youth week teams, tactics often used as part of player-poaching drives.
Three DHS coaches in the A team, ridiculous, no wonder talent like Lizwe Mtwetwa were overlooked this year. One Glenwood rep across the board is poor too. Heiberg at DHS is just wrong too…..KZN schools rugby has become toxic….
Good recognition for the DHS rugby programme with Peter and Ronnie in particular taking on the Craven Week team. I wish the team well. Hope Peter does a good job with them. With so much talent in KZn of late, would be great to make a ‘final’ at Craven Week.