“Qualifying for Champions Cup will be massive after the season we had”- Etzebeth

Ayanda Nyuswa

Hollywoodbets Sharks stand in captain Eben Etzebeth says qualifying for the Investec Champions Cup will be a massive positive for his side after having a poor season in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship. The Sharks will face English side Gloucester in the EPCR Challenge Cup final at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Friday night, as the Durban side will get a chance to win their first European piece of silverware.

The Sharks have endured an underwhelming season in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship, failing to finish in the top eight and qualify for next season’s Investec Champions Cup, with the elite clubs of Europe. As a result, John Plumtrees team targetted the second tier Challenge Cup competition as an alternative way of entry into the Champions Cup next season. Speaking ahead of the highly anticipated Friday night Finale, Etzebeth believes it will be a massive positive for his side to qualify for Champions Cup Rugby after the Challenging season they had.

“It will be massive for us, especially looking at where we came from about 4 months ago. It was really a tought place at the Sharks and we have gotten better over the last couple of months and now we have got a chance to get some silverware. It will be great for the club, the supporters, especially the players I think the players and coaches have put in the hard work and the character they showed in the semi final against Clermont and getting a chance in the final,” said Etzebeth.

Etzebeth’s fellow teammate and World Cup winner Ox Nche has highlighted the importance of the Sharks getting over the line in the final, and becoming the first South African team to win a European Cup competition.

“It’s a serious game and something we have never done as a union, and it’s a big challenge for us,” said Nche. “I mean we taking it with great seriousness, I mean, we could be the first team (in South Africa) to win a European title so I think for us it will be an amazing reward if we did it,” Nche concluded.