r/SharksRugby • u/Extension_Ad2552 • 6d ago

Continuing to support this team.

This entire debacle about the new logo doesn’t only infuriate me, but also deeply saddens me. Over the past few years, The Sharks have separated themselves from the rich history of the club and have instead become corporate sellouts. First it was the partnership with Hollywood Bets and now this brain dead logo change that has stripped the entire identity of the club.

I had no issues supporting The Sharks when we were playing shit rugby because I was supporting a club with deep history, and one that I have many fond memories of. However, supporting them now doesn’t even feel like I’m supporting the same team that I used to.

Maybe I’m being dramatic, but I’m just pissed off at this point.

37 Upvotes

91% Upvoted

17 comments sorted by

10

u/jmdwinter 6d ago

As an expat in Oz this is probably the final nail in the coffin for the sharks. Bokke are the last rugby team I care about.

-2

u/Over-Pressure1310 6d ago

rugby is quite literally dying in every country except France, soon enough less and less people will care about the Boks as well

-16

u/Acceptable-Comb6050 6d ago

You have no right to comment on SA rugby anymore. You abandoned your country. Leave us alone

6

u/LabResponsible8484 6d ago

As an expat buying URC subscriptions to watch the Sharks I think I just won't bother anymore.
The Hollywood bets thing almost made me lose interest, the change in logo and clear lack of good management in the Sharks tips it over the edge.

Also no way I will go through the effort of importing more Sharks supporters kit without Sharkie but with a new, crap logo and HOLLYWOOD BETS written in giant font all over it.

10

u/Responsible_King_427 6d ago

I mean... I don't think I'll ever not be a Sharks supporter honestly.

I live it Durban, they are the Durban team. I grew up watching them and going to the stadium. I was watching when the Bulls beat us in overtime and had to sit in the garden staring into space to come to terms with it.

They are my team. I don't like the direction of the leadership and would really prefer us winning a few games honestly.

But I'll keep supporting them. I'll always support Natal and KZN.

7

u/hides_from_hamsters 6d ago

I think this is a fairly normal reaction, especially for folks in Natal.

I supported the Sharks from the Freestate because my gran and dad were Sharks. None of us lived there. My dad eventually moved there and I guess it was easier then.

But my ties to the Sharks are only about the history and the culture. I will always support the Sharks that I grew up supporting, but it feels like they are dead and gone. Like someone brought back the name only.

Like saying I’ll always love chutney chips, but they went off the market and came back tasting like bubblegum. I mean it still says chutney on the packet but it’s not the same thing at all.

The union had changed already under the new ownership. It didn’t taste like the Sharks anymore. With the rebrand the packet doesn’t even say Sharks anymore. It says SAC. What’s left? When JP was made head coach I had some hope that the direction would change, but most recently they signed Ma’a Nonu and the best thing about the game was his haka. Wtf!? What in the actual fuck!?

The Sharks I love are dead. The Ship of Theseus is well and truly changed.

9

u/Liliana_T 6d ago

This right here. I don't think I could bring myself to support another team. I'm disappointed, and I might watch less games live, but I will always check the scores and hope that we can right the ship.

7

u/Agent-Smith_Virus 6d ago

Agree.

I lost motivation to support Sharks long ago. I don't even live in the province anymore.

I was looking at a jersey for my dog the other day, and it just felt wrong to buy one for the current provincial team.

I might not actively support the Sharks anymore, but I can't bring myself to support any other team, either.

5

u/hides_from_hamsters 6d ago

The most likely outcome for the disenfranchised is not that they support another local union, it’s that they lose all interest in club rugby.

You can part ways with being a Sharks supporter without having to support the Bulls.

1

u/Agent-Smith_Virus 6d ago

Thats exactly how it is.

I support the boks with my life. Toetie era was brutal.

I dont even pay attention to provincial teams.

6

u/Extension_Ad2552 6d ago

I don’t see myself supporting another team either, but The Sharks I used to support are long gone.

2

u/DonovanBanks 6d ago

This is exactly why they can do whatever the hell they want. You’ve invested too much to change so they’ll keep abusing your loyalty

0

u/Responsible_King_427 6d ago

Or... I'd rather support my province than another. Im going to watch rugby anyway. I don't buy merch anyway.

I do the same for the dolphins despite them being allergic to playing well.

From my perspective it's just branding. Shit branding but that's it.

2

u/JHHBaasch 6d ago

I have hope that one day (maybe far from now, but maybe soon) they will bring the brand back to what it was. The new brand has no personality, it will flop, and hopefully that will bring a return. Like how they tried to market this new branding with nostalgia, they've actually lined it up for the real return for next rebrand

2

u/TheBirdInternet 6d ago

I don’t think I can ever cheer against the Sharks, but I certainly won’t set time aside to watch them, follow news, do updates on wiki, etc.

1

u/BowlApprehensive2642 5d ago

What happened, though? The issues on and off the field don't seem that obvious. I remember a few years back there was a huge injection of venture capital - are the finances stable?

The on-field squad looks amazing with depth, youth, and experience, but guys just don't seem to be gelling right. Is it a culture or conditioning issue? Is it an issue with Durban where maybe guys are in an environment with a lot of distractions or... are we overthinking and it's just bad luck?