Sharks prop Ox Nche says he is excited to be back playing Vodacom Super Rugby after joining the team from the Cheetahs last year.

Nche last played Super Rugby for the Cheetahs in 2017, before the franchise decided to leave the competition to join the expanded PRO14.

After being impressive in the last four years in Bloemfontein, the 24-year-old decided that change was necessary and was one of nine new players to move to the Sharks at the end of 2019.

‘I’m enjoying everything here in Durban, although the downside is the weather. I’m not used to the heat and humidity yet, but otherwise, I’m loving it here,’ Nche told the Sharks website.

‘There was no specific reason for me leaving the Cheetahs, but I guess there comes a time for you to explore and see what else is out there,’ he explained his move. ‘The Cheetahs have been good to me and I enjoyed my time there, but I felt that it was time to make a move and explore new horizons.

‘I’m really excited, I have played Super Rugby before and I’ve learned a lot in the PRO14, particularly the set piece, but I am very excited to be playing Super Rugby again, it’s a special competition.’

Having experienced both competitions, Nche said that Super Rugby brings its own challenges when compared to PRO14, which tends to be centred around the set piece.

‘In position-specific terms, they are different because the PRO14 is much more set-piece orientated and it’s often the tight five and forwards getting the momentum and winning games,’ Nche said. ‘Whereas in Super Rugby, everyone gets a touch of the ball.

‘I’m really looking forward to that challenge, that’s why we play rugby: to compete against the best and get better ourselves. I’m excited.

‘The Sharks have always had a well-balanced gameplan where both the forwards and backs get to run with the ball; add to that a good kicking game and I feel that if we can dominate the opposition – the backs and forwards – then I think we’ll do pretty well.’

Photo: Steve Haag Sports/Hollywoodbets