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04 February 2010 (14:47) - One of the great success stories of the last decade has been the emergence of The Sharks Academy as a place of learning and training in the field of professional rugby.

In 2001 Brian van Zyl, CEO of The Sharks, was concerned that so many talented school boy rugby players were being lost to other provinces. Under his leadership The Sharks decided to create a solid base for school-leavers with the potential to enter into a career as a professional rugby player. Initially operating for two years as the SA Institute of Rugby (SAIR), The Sharks Academy is tucked away in its current home in the north wing of The Absa Stadium Durban. It is the only academy of its kind in South Africa, accredited by SA Rugby and backed by a strategic partnership with The Sharks, staffed by experienced coaches and trainers, headed by Managing Director Hans Scriba, himself a former flyhalf/fullback for Western Province and The Sharks.

Over and above the world class rugby coaching and physical conditioning training, the Academy also offers three full-time academic options, namely B.Com Marketing degree, Marketing Management Diploma, as well as a Certificate in Fitness Training.

Looking back over the last ten years, Scriba added, "We have been fortunate enough to experience steady success, where we started with 34 students in 2001 and now six Springboks and 43 Sharks players have graduated from the academy. We place particular emphasis on recruiting promising players from previously disadvantaged communities and this has achieved significant results. Bursaries are also offered to these and other top players."

Scriba was quick to point out that the aim is to provide the all important balance between rugby, training, education and life skills. He stresses that the great success of the academy is its position alongside The Sharks. He added, "We are the only academy or tertiary institution that runs its academic and rugby courses parallel to a professional union, so you could say it is run like a junior Sharks structure, with the aim of continuously producing Sharks players for the future. Scriba continued, "In this our 10th anniversary year, we have plans for a gala dinner, a golf day, a rugby tour of Mpumalanga and Gauteng plus a few other exciting events on the cards."

All these things have enabled the Sharks Academy to establish a unique position in world rugby and together with The Sharks supporting structures it has made this institution such a sort after and valuable asset.

Springboks and Sharks (Vodacom Super Rugby / Absa Currie Cup) from the Sharks Academy in past nine years:

15	Carl Bezuidenhout	Scott Spedding	Patrick Lambie
14	JP Pietersen *	Cedric Mkhize	Dusty Noble
13	Waylon Murray *	Clyde Rathbone	Braden Ferreira
12	Bradley Barritt	Riaan Swanepoel
11	Lwazi Mvovu	Luzuko Vulindlu	Howard Noble
10	Francois Steyn *	Steve Meyer	Guy Cronje
9	Sandile Nxumalo	Thulani Nteta	Ross Cronje
8	Ryan Kankowski *	Justin Downey
7	Tim Dlulani *	Nikolai Blignaut	Michael Rhodes
6	Keegan Daniel	Conrad Stoltz
5	Alistair Hargreaves	Johan Snyman
4	Steven Sykes	Claude Dry
3	Patric Cilliers	Pompies Wessels	Wiehan Herbst	Julian Redelinghuis
2	Craig Burden	Jody Jenneker	Jan-Toit van Jaarsveld	JC Str
1	Beast Mtawarira *	Sangoni Mxoli	Melusi Mthethwa	Dale Chadwick

* Springboks