ERNIE: “I LOVE BEING WRITTEN OFF” 

Sharks skipper Ernst van Rhyn says he’s targeting a fast start to the new season to help restore pride back in the famous Sharks jersey – and after losing five home games last season, he says he wants to turn the CorpAcq Stadium into a fortress once again. 

The 28-year-old spent the off-season enjoying a warm winter in his native South Africa, but now he’s back in his adopted second home and feeling reinvigorated and raring to go for the big Gallagher PREM kick off on Saturday 26^th September. 

“I was in South Africa for four weeks but coming back here, to my club and to our home, was brilliant,” he said. “I had a good time and I made sure I recharged, which was needed after last season because it was emotionally and physically draining.  

“There definitely were reflections over the off-season. I know the coaches had a review and so did some of us senior players. Most of it is parked but it’s important to address the mistakes we made and the areas that we can improve to make sure we make the right changes – or what we feel are the right changes.  

“But it was great to come back in and so far it’s been brilliant. I feel there’s a great energy and I love the intent that everyone has come back in with. You could tell from day one that everyone was determined to put the work in and make sure we learn the lessons of last season.  

“It definitely feels like the intensity of training is different and it’s been tougher than in previous seasons. We’re going after more detail and specifics than before and we’re working harder on our fitness, especially in the gym. It feels like we’re being pushed more mentally and that’s what we need because we want to develop our game. 

“We want to create a better environment and culture around the building and we want to be closer as a team. There were a lot of things that we felt we could have done differently or better last season and we’ve deliberately taken action to make sure we don’t make the same mistakes again. 

“We’ll only know if the changes we’re making are the right changes when the season starts but it’s really exciting. The worst thing we could have done would have been to do the same thing and expect different results. 

“I can promise everyone that is not what’s happening.” 

Alex Sanderson gave some insight into how his team might look different in 2026/27 in an interview last week, and the skipper is fully on board with the Sharks Director of Rugby’s call for an extra emphasis on attack and running. 

“The game model has shifted in world rugby,” he said. “The emphasis is much more on running rugby, so we have to adapt to that. But for us that means understanding our players and what our strengths are and making sure we come up with the right plan. 

“We want to play more attacking rugby, we want to strike fast and we want to run more but we know that we need to put in the work to be able to do that. We need to be able to perform in the red zone, when we’re tired and under pressure and that goes back to how hard we’re being pushed mentally. 

“At the same time, the basics of rugby are still the same and we don’t want to take away from our set-piece, our kicking games or the defensive dominance that we want. That’s all still important but we’re trying to layer on more on top.” 

As club captain, there’s always extra responsibility to welcome new faces to Carrington, and with 12 new senior players and five fresh-faced Senior Academy signings, Ernst, who joined Sharks ahead of the 2023/24 season, could have his work cut out. 

But he says the new players have bought into the team spirit being built by coaches and players alike. 

“The new lads have been great,” he said. “It’s no disrespect to anyone who left us, because they were all brilliant guys, but new people bring new energy and the best thing has been that they have all come in with the intention to prove themselves.  

“A lot are experienced international players but they want to show their worth and suddenly that means that everyone has to work harder and compete harder. 

“It would have been easy for them all to just fall in and go under the radar but they’ve all showed they’re willing to work. Everyone is looking really sharp. 

“It’s hard to pick out just one, but Courtney has been amazing. He’s achieved so much and probably looks a bit intimidating but he’s so approachable for everyone and he has such a calm way of speaking. He carries a real presence and for the team, he’s going to be brilliant. 

“For me personally, I already feel like I’m learning a lot about my game but also from a leadership perspective too, how to handle certain situations. 

“A lot of these guys are older, they’re internationals and they have achieved so much in their careers, but they’ve thrown themselves into everything, they haven’t looked for a way out and they’ve bought into the team spirit. 

“We want to suffer together and be in the trenches together.” 

Sharks began last season with lofty ambitions and after four semi-final appearances in five seasons, the expectation among fans, players and staff alike was that the club could finally take the next step and secure a first Gallagher PREM crown in 20 years. 

But a series of injuries to key players along with coaching changes and poor performances left them with just five wins from 18 PREM games. 

So what of this season’s goals?   

“It would be great to say we won the PREM from where we were at the end of last season and that’s the goal,” Ernst added. “And I really believe that there’s no reason why we can’t achieve it. 

“I love the underdog mentality and I love being written off. Tell me I don’t have a chance and that makes me fight even harder. 

“But along the way there will be smaller goals. First of all, we want to restore a pride in the jersey and give the fans a team to be proud of, and then we want to get our home record back and make our stadium a hard place to come to again. I want teams to hate coming to the CorpAcq Stadium. 

“Then I want us to be more consistent. I don’t want us to have high peaks followed by low moments where we lose heavily. That’s something we have spoken about a lot and it’s actually one of the topics Courtney spoke up about – he talked about how to achieve that consistency through not just what you do on the pitch on a matchday, but how you prepare every week, how you get yourself ready for training every day.  

“We know the first block of games is so important because we want to start fast. That’ll be brilliant for the fans and for everyone at the club. Then we have something to build on to make this a really exciting, successful season. 

“I can’t wait to get started.” 

Join Ernie and the boys for the 2026/27 season. Season Tickets are available here.