This is the 6th article in the series of Cell C Sharks Squad Contenders for Super Rugby 2014. We do 2 articles per week per South African Super Rugby participating franchise.

We discuss the players IN the Super Rugby Group, and not all the options beyond that.

In this Article we look at the contenders for SCRUMHALVES in the Cell C Sharks 2014 Super Rugby group, and whether they could force their way into Bok contention.

The Contenders:

Name: Charl McLeod:

Position Scrumhalf Height 1.80m Weight 88kg Date of Birth 5 August 1983 Place of Birth Johannesburg Provincial Debut 2005 for WP in Vodacom Cup Provincial Caps 110 Provincial Points 135 Super Rugby Debut 2008 for Sharks Super Rugby Caps 55 Super Rugby Points 0 Test Debut 30 July 2011 vs All Blacks Test Caps 1 Test PLUS 1 Tour match Test Points 0

Charl McLeod is a product of Wonderboom Primary School and Wonderboom High School in Pretoria.

He is already 30 years old and made his senior debut for Western Province in the Vodacom Cup in 2005 whereafter he also played ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division rugby in 2006. In 2006 he played for Maties in the Club Championships.

In 2007 he moved to the Valke where he played Vodacom Cup and Currie Cup Premier Division rugby befor moving to the Lions where he also played Currie Cup Premier Division Rugby.

In 2008 he moved to the Sharks, where he still plies his trade and where he has represented them at Vodacom Cup, Super Rugby and Currie Cup Premier Division levels.

McLeod does the basics well and has a great pass, which saw him being called up to the Bok squad as an injury replacement on the end of year tour in 2010. On 18 November 2010, whilst the Springboks were already two matches into their November tour of Ireland, Wales, Scotland and England, Charl received the call to join the squad. After an extremely successful Currie Cup campaign where the Sharks were the deserved champions, many felt this was just reward.

His playing career is as follows:

• 2005 – Investec WP – Vodacom Cup, Investec WP – ABSA Currie Cup Qualifying Round
• 2006 – Vodacom WP – Vodacom Cup, Vodacom WP – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Maties – Fidentia National Club Championships
• 2007 – Lions – Vodacom Cup, Valke – ABSA Currie Cup Qualifiers, Valke – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Golden Lions – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Golden Lions XV – ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies
• 2008 – Sharks – Vodacom Super 14, Wildebeest – Vodacom Cup, The Sharks – ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies, The Sharks – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2009 – Sharks – MTN test, Sharks XV – Vodacom Cup, Sharks – Vodacom Super 14, Sharks – British & Irish Lions Tour, Sharks Invitational XV – ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies, The Sharks – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2010 – Sharks – Vodacom Super 14, Sharks XV – Vodacom Cup, Sharks Invitational XV – ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies, The Sharks – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Springboks – Outgoing Tours
• 2011 – Sharks – Vodacom Super Rugby, Springboks – Castle Tri-Nations, The Sharks – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2012 – Sharks – Vodacom Super Rugby, The Sharks – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2013 – Sharks – Vodacom Super Rugby, The Sharks – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division

Charl has been a Sharks stalwart for year but tends to go into dips in form from time to time and he will see some starting and bench positions at scrumhalf in 2014.

Name: Jacobus Meyer “Cobus” Reinach:

Position Scrumhalf Height 1.75m Weight 84kg Date of Birth 7 February 1990 Place of Birth Bloemfontein Provincial Debut 2011 for Natal Sharks Provincial Caps 45 Provincial Points 40 Super Rugby Debut 2012 for Sharks Super Rugby Caps 13 Super Rugby Points 5 Test Debut Test Caps 0 Test Points 0

Cobus Reinach is a product of Grey College Primary and Secondary Schools in Bloemfontein and the ETA Sharks Academy.

He is the son of the late Jaco Reinach, SA 400 m champion runner and Free State wing.

He played for Free State at the Under 18 Academy Week in 2008 before being snatched up by the Sharks where he started playing from 2009 till present. He has represented the Sharks at Under 19, Vodacom Cup, Currie Cup Premier Division and Under 21 levels and came close to the Springbok squad by being included in some of the Springbok training camps.

His playing career is as follows:

• 2008 – Free State – U18 Academy Weekx
• 2009 – Sharks – ABSA Under 19 Competition
• 2011 – Sharks XV – Vodacom Cup, Sharks XV – ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies, The Sharks – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Sharks – ABSA Under 21 Competition
• 2012 – Sharks – Vodacom Super Rugby, Sharks XV – Vodacom Cup, The Sharks – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2013 – Sharks – Vodacom Super Rugby, The Sharks – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Divisionx

Cobus has his ups and downs and competition will be strong between him and Charl McLeod for the starting berth at the Sharks in 2014.

Name: Stefan Ungerer:

Position Scrumhalf Height 1.85m Weight 88kg Date of Birth 23 November 1993 Place of Birth Pietermaritzburg Provincial Debut 2013 for Sharks XV in Vodacom Cup vs Border Provincial Caps 4 Provincial Points 0 Super Rugby Debut Super Rugby Caps 0 Super Rugby Points 0 Test Debut Test Caps 0 Test Points 0

Stefan Ungerer is a product of Pelham Primary School, Maritzburgh College and studies Sport Management.

He represented the Natal Sharks at Under 13, Under 16, Under 19 and Under 21 level in various youth tournaments. In 2013, he was included in their Vodacom Cup squad and made his provincial first class debut in the 72–6 victory over the Border Bulldogs.

He was included in the training group that toured Argentina in preparation for the 2013 IRB Junior World Championship. He was then included in the squad for the 2013 IRB Junior World Championship.

His playing career is as follows:

• 2006 – Natal – U13 Coca Cola Craven Week
• 2009 – KZN – U16 Grant Khomo Week
• 2010 – Sharks – ABSA Under 19 Competition
• 2011 – KZN – U18 Coca-Cola Craven Week, Sharks – ABSA Under 19 Competition
• 2012 – Sharks – ABSA Under 21 Competition, Sharks – ABSA Under 19 Competition
• 2013 – Sharks XV – Vodacom Cup, South Africa – IRB Junior World Championship, The Sharks – ABSA Under 21 Competition, The Sharks – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division

Whilst Ungerer is talented, he should only see game time off the bench in case of injury to Charl Mcleosd or Cobus Reinach.

Starters:

The Sharks will most probably rotate starting positions between Charl McLeod and Cobus Reinach with Charl McLeod getting most of the games.

The next Article in the range will deal with the Cell C Sharks’ flyhalves.