Sharks' Currie Cup heroes head to Ireland

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Sharks head coach John Plumtree has revealed a 27-man tour squad for their upcoming United Rugby Championship matches in Ireland, Wales and Italy.

The squad, fresh from their dramatic 16-14 Currie Cup Final victory over the Lions, will face Connacht in Round Two on Saturday before matches against the Dragons and Benetton in the coming weeks.

Fourteen of the 15 players that started in the Final will be on the plane. Lock Emile van Heerden misses out after leaving the field due to concussion protocols.

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Centre Francois Venter has been included in the squad after missing the Currie Cup Final. He received a red card for a head-on-head clash in his team's Currie Cup semifinal against the Bulls.

Springbok lock Jason Jenkins also makes the final cut for the tour.

The tour squad will be captained by loose forward Vincent Tshituka.

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"To have come to Joburg for the Final, lost and then hop on a plane for Ireland wouldn’t have been great - fortunately that’s not the case," said Plumtree.

"So, we will all cherish the memory - everyone who had a hand in getting us to the end.

"We’ve found belief but it’s going to be tough emotionally and physically getting off this high.

"The other job for me now is getting the players back down to earth because we know what a tough game we have in Galway.

"Connacht will be waiting for us. They’ll be excited about playing at home."

Sharks tour squad:

Forwards: Corne’ Rahl, Dylan Richardson, Emmanuel Tshituka, Ethan Bester, Fez Mbatha, Gerbrandt Grobler, Hanro Jacobs, James Venter, Jason Jenkins, Mawande Mdande, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Ruan Dreyer, Tino Mavesere, Trevor Nyakane, Vincent Tshituka (captain).

Backs: Andre Esterhuizen, Bradley Davids, Cameron Wright, Eduan Keyter, Ethan Hooker, Francois Venter, Gershwin Wehr, Jordan Hendrikse, Jurenzo Julius, Lionel Cronje, Siya Masuku, Tian Meyer.