This is the team that gave JP Pietersen everything and shaped him for the better as a person. Now he wants to give back to Hollywoodbet Sharks as head coach.
Pietersen made 197 appearances for the Durban-based side over two spells and it was the starting point for him to win 70 caps for the Springboks, featuring in the 2007 World Cup triumph.
Now the former winger is in charge of King’s Park and is doing a good job.
The Sharks have won four of their five games so far this season, with bonus-point wins over the Ospreys, Leinster Rugby and Cardiff Rugby in BKT URC, while opening their European one Challenge Cup campaign with a triumph away to the French club Lyon.
Next, they travel to Limerick for a league clash Munster Rugby at Thomond Park on Saturday night.
It is clear that it means a lot to Pietersen to have been at the helm of the team whose colors he has worn with such distinction for over a decade.
It’s a love affair that goes back a long way.
“I remember meeting Andre Joubert and Henry Honiball when I was eight or nine,” he says.
“I was amazed. Just being around them was surreal. That’s when I fell in love with the Sharks for the first time.
“Growing up, I was always a shark from day one. I just loved how they played.
“Like any kid, I chased the dream of being a professional rugby player. I always dreamed of playing for the Sharks one day, so playing for them was a dream come true.”
“My first year here was in 2005 after school. Just to be in the stadium and watch the players go by, I was amazed again. I felt like ‘I’m here now’.”
It was in June 2005 that Pieterson made his debut for the Sharks at home to the Boland Cavaliers in the Currie Cup.
“I walked through the gate and people probably thought I was just a ball boy,” he recalls.
“I went into the dressing room and I couldn’t talk.
“But then I came alive and scored two tries. That was really special.”
He won his first game for South Africa against New Zealand just a year later and he was to have a glittering playing career that lasted with the Panasonic Wild Knights in Japan, Leicester and Toulon between two spells with his beloved Sharks.
Internationally, he appeared in three World Cups and scored a total of 24 tries for his national team, and was also known for his outstanding defence.
There is no doubt who he should thank first and foremost for everything he has achieved.
“It’s beautiful how the game of rugby shapes you and I will forever be grateful for the way the Sharks shaped me into the better person I am today,” says the 40-year-old.
“To summarize the Sharks, the brand and the organization gave me everything.
“It gave me the opportunity to travel the world and meet friends abroad.
“It built resilience and shaped my life for the better.
“I’ve made a heck of a lot of memories on the court and it’s time to make some new memories and I know we’re going to make some good memories.”
After hanging up his boots aged 34 in 2021, he moved straight into a coaching role with the Sharks.
“For me, it happened naturally. It was something small that I could give back,” he says.
“That’s what I thought when I started training, to fight back.”
Pietersen was initially involved in the Sharks’ youth structure before becoming head coach Currie Cup team, which led them to the domestic trophy in 2024, winning Lions in the final at Ellis Park.
He was then named interim head coach of the Hollywoodbets Sharks in December last year following the departure of John Plumtree, and was confirmed in the role permanently in February.
“It was pretty easy to say yes to running. It’s a little something I can give back. It’s close to my heart,” he says.
Since taking over, he has overseen a definite turnaround in the team’s fortunes, something that was particularly evident at the start of this season.
Reflecting on how he approached the job, he says:
“I wanted to return the fight and pride to the jersey, but not by talking, but by work.
“I want the fans to see us fight for 80 minutes.
“The Sharks have always been a team that never gives up. We always find a way to be in the game or win.
“I try to give the boys as much attention and detail as possible, but also to be firm.
“As a coach, you always measure yourself by how many trophies you win and how many games you win.
“But for me it’s seeing a group of Sharks men play their hearts out, play with pride, fight for the jersey, defend the jersey with everything they’ve got and play like it’s their last game.
“Obviously, the main thing is to win as many trophies as possible.”
The fight Pietersen speaks of was evident in last Friday’s win over Cardiff at the Arms Park.
His team trailed 21-17 on the clock but scored three tries in the final quarter to win 36-21 and secure maximum points.
“It just shows character and belief in the group,” he said.
“When we were under the pump, playing against the wind, the old Sharks could easily have lost 50-17.
“But we stayed there despite the injuries we sustained during the game.
“The nice thing about this team, the Sharks Warriors, is that they’ve found a way to get on with it and come together.
“You have to give a lot of credit to the group, to the players, for hanging on and finishing the game like that.”
He added: “We were pleased with the result and eager for five points in Cardiff.
“But we’re also keeping our feet on the ground because we know we’ve got a big game against Munster in Limerick.”
Stellenbosch-born Pietersen is clearly a man on a mission with the Sharks as he looks to pass on his sporting philosophy.
“I always say that nothing is impossible,” he declares.
“I wasn’t the most talented guy, but I believe with the passion you have and if your dream is big enough, you can achieve anything.
“Dream, work hard, be disciplined, have courage and put yourself out there. We worry so much about what could go wrong, sometimes we forget what’s out there for us.”
