Follow live scoring as the Sharks host Leinster in a major United Rugby Championship contest at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Saturday night.
The Sharks face a significant test against Leinster in Durban, with the Irish side arriving determined to respond after suffering a one-point defeat last week.
Leinster are also looking to improve their position in the table after establishing themselves among the competition’s leading teams in recent seasons. The Sharks know the visitors will present a much tougher challenge than the one posed by the Ospreys.
For the Durban side, victory would provide a substantial confidence boost before next week’s meeting with the Stormers in Cape Town.
The hosts can also draw encouragement from Leinster’s recent record in South Africa. The visitors have won only once in their past nine trips to the country, although that victory came in Durban last season.
The Sharks will hope their vocal home support and the warm, humid conditions can help them maintain their position near the top of the table.
They have also been strengthened by the returns of Springboks Andre Esterhuizen, Eben Etzebeth, Edwill van der Merwe, Thomas du Toit and Ethan Hooker.
Sharks v Leinster
Date: Saturday, 3 October 2026
Venue: Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban
South Africa time: 18h30
Referee: Craig Evans
TV: SuperSport
Sharks: 15 Luan Giliomee, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Jurenzo Julius, 12 Andre Esterhuizen (captain), 11 Lili Bester, 10 Vusi Moyo, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Nick Hatton, 7 Manu Tshituka, 6 Phepsi Buthelezi, 5 Darrien Landsberg, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Esethu Mnebelele, 1 Thomas du Toit
Replacements: 16 Ethan Bester, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Eben Etzebeth, 20 Matt Romao, 21 Ivan van Zyl, 22 Zekhethelo Siyaya, 23 Ethan Hooker
Leinster: 15 Todd Lawlor, 14 Tommy O’Brien, 13 Hugh Cooney, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 Andrew Osborne, 10 Caspar Gabriel, 9 Fintan Gunne, 8 Josh Ericson, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Ryan Baird, 5 Alan Spicer, 4 Conor O’Tighearnaigh, 3 Thomas Clarkson, 2 Ronan Kelleher (captain), 1 Andrew Porter
Replacements: 16 Gus McCarthy, 17 Alex Usanov, 18 Niall Smyth, 19 Brian Deeny, 20 Diarmuid Mangan, 21 Oliver Coffey, 22 Sam Prendergast, 23 Hugo McLaughlin.
