There is something happening at the Hollywoodbets Sharks, and it’s far bigger than the Top Eight goal they have for this Vodacom United Rugby Championship season.
The Fidelity Securedrive Lions claimed the SA Shield for the first time in a gripping round of local Vodacom United Rugby Championship derbies as they defeated the DHL Stormers in a dramatic match in Johannesburg, while the Vodacom Bulls made a strong statement against the Hollywoodbets Sharks in Pretoria, which saw both Gauteng sides hold onto their spots in the top eight.
Andre Esterhuizen will lead a strong Hollywoodbets Sharks team to Pretoria to take on the Vodacom Bulls in their final derby match of the 2025/26 Vodacom United Rugby Championship season.
The pressure on the local Vodacom United Rugby Championship teams will reach new heights this weekend as the competition strikes round 12, and the desperation to be in the top eight, combined with the battle for the SA Shield, set to drive the teams to come out on top in exciting local derbies.
The Lions succeeded in their mission to power their way into the Vodacom United Rugby Championship top eight on Saturday as they overcame two yellow cards to defeat the Hollywoodbets Sharks 34-22 in Johannesburg for an invaluable bonus-point win in their rescheduled round eight clash.
Vodacom United Rugby Championship action resumes this weekend as the Hollywoodbets Sharks travel to Johannesburg for their return-leg, second-round clash against the Lions on Saturday afternoon.
The battle lines will be clearly drawn on Saturday when the Lions and Hollywoodbets Sharks go head-to-head in their postponed round eight Vodacom United Rugby Championship clash in Johannesburg, where a place in the top eight will be up for grabs.
The Vodacom Bulls and Hollywoodbets Sharks showed true grit in a thrilling round of Vodacom United Rugby Championship derbies to walk away with crucial victories against the Lions and DHL Stormers, which not only proved that they could be finding their form at the right time, but it also gave them a handy nudge on the standings.
The return-leg Vodacom United Rugby Championship derby match between the Hollywoodbets Sharks and DHL Stormers takes place at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Saturday with the Durban side looking to pull off a stunning double over the previously unbeaten Cape side.
For two men – Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen and his Vodacom Bulls counterpart Johan Ackermann – Saturday’s Jukskei Derby represents a deep bond shared between the two in the game of rugby, and then a far deeper connection in the realms of friendship and faith.