SHARKS
Head CoachJP Pietersen
JP Pietersen is the head coach of the Sharks, a 2007 World Cup-winning Springbok wing confirmed permanently in the role in February 2026.
Tenure record
as of 11 Aug 2026By competition
United Rugby Championship 8P · 4W · 0D · 4L
Challenge Cup 1P · 0W · 0D · 1L
Rugby's Greatest Rivalry 1P · 0W · 0D · 1L
JP Pietersen has overseen 10 completed Sharks matches in our database since February 2026 — 4 won, 0 drawn, 6 lost. That is a 40.0% win rate, with 257 points scored and 253 conceded.
Records are computed from the WeTalkRugby match database and cover matches we hold data for within this tenure. They are not an official all-time record.
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Coaching career
- 2026- Sharks Head Coach
Players under JP Pietersen
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About JP Pietersen
JP Pietersen is the head coach of the Hollywoodbets Sharks, confirmed permanently in February 2026 after ten weeks as interim. He is one of the most decorated players ever to coach the franchise.
Born in Stellenbosch in July 1986, he was a wing who made more than 180 appearances for the Sharks, with later spells at Panasonic Wild Knights, Leicester Tigers and Toulon. He won 69 Springbok caps, played at three World Cups, and was part of the 2007 winning squad — forming with Bryan Habana the most-capped Springbok wing partnership in history.
Coaching
He joined the Sharks coaching setup in February 2021 after retiring, working in age-group rugby before becoming head of the junior programme. He took charge of the first eight rounds of the 2024 Currie Cup campaign with a young squad, then moved onto the senior staff as attack coach. When John Plumtree stepped away in December 2025 he took over as interim, and was confirmed permanently in February 2026.
His appointment came as part of a wide high-performance restructure, with Rory Duncan as chief of staff, Dave Williams moving to GM High Performance, Neil Powell to junior rugby and Scott Mathie arriving from Edinburgh as attack coach.
Style
He is regarded as a calm, player-centred leader with a strong feel for the game and a track record of developing back-three talent. He has yet to win a trophy as a head coach.
Frequently asked
Who is the head coach of Sharks?
JP Pietersen is the head coach of Sharks.
When did JP Pietersen take charge?
JP Pietersen took over at Sharks in February 2026.
What is JP Pietersen's record?
From 10 matches in our database: 4 wins, 0 draws and 6 defeats — a 40.0% win rate.
What nationality is JP Pietersen?
JP Pietersen is South African.
How old is JP Pietersen?
JP Pietersen is 40 years old.
