The Sharks’ away jersey for the 2019 Super Rugby tournament honours veteran prop Beast Mtawarira.

Mtawarira is the 144th player to represent the Sharks in Super Rugby and the franchise’s most capped player (150) in the tournament. In 2019, he is set to become the most capped South African Super Rugby player in history, needing just six games to break Adriaan Strauss’ record.

‘Beast’s contribution to the Sharks cannot be limited only to the field of play, but also the role he’s played off it,’ said Sharks chief operating officer Eduard Coetzee. ‘He has been a role model and mentor for numerous young props [and] players who have come through the system and who were able to learn so much from him, both as a player and human being. We are delighted that we can honour him in our 2019 Super Rugby away jersey design.’

Mtawarira said: ‘I am very humbled and consider it a massive honour to be celebrated by the Sharks with a jersey that honours me. It’s been a great privilege to represent this team for many years and I look forward to a big 2019 season to commemorate this special moment.’

The Sharks’ home jersey retains the core design plus a few tweaks.

The third jersey that the Sharks will wear is the Black Panther-inspired jersey, which will be launched early in 2019. This jersey is part of SA Rugby and Vodacom’s partnership with Marvel that will see all South African teams in superhero-themed jerseys for all local derby matches in 2019.