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Edwill's big shot at fullback for Sharks
The Mercury
|October 03, 2025
THE big changes to the Sharks team for their second-round United Rugby Championship clash against the Dragons on Friday night are the shift of Edwill van der Merwe from wing to fullback, and the promotion of Junior Springbok Jean Smith to fly-half.
Speaking from Newport, coach John Plumtree said he had long identified Springbok Van der Merwe as a potential fullback, despite the 29-year-old never having played there before.
“We lost Yaw Penxe to injury last week and I immediately thought about Edwill at fullback, because I believed he was one in the making even before he came to us from the Lions,” Plumtree said.
“Edwill is a smart player; he can kick long and is excellent in the air. He’s 29 and has been around the track, so he understands the defensive system and how it works in the back three with the fullback and wingers.
“I'm looking forward to seeing how he goes.”
This story is from the October 03, 2025 edition of The Mercury.
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