The last dance in Durban
Some players arrive quietly. Luan Giliomee announced himself to the new URC season by beating defender after defender on a weaving run to the tryline, then finishing a second try in the corner. On Saturday the 20-year-old fullback faces Leinster, the defending champions, in Durban, and it is set to be his final match in a Sharks jersey before he joins the Bulls.
Why Luan Giliomee, why now
Giliomee was named man of the match in the Sharks’ 41-24 win over the Ospreys in round 1, and the praise has not stopped since. In Ireland, Irish Times rugby writer John O’Sullivan devoted a column to him under the headline “Leinster enter the Shark Tank needing a plan to deal with Luan Giliomee”, comparing his profile to Springbok backs Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse. His verdict on Leinster’s readiness: “The Irish province is forewarned. Forearmed? That’s to be determined.”
The timing adds an edge. Giliomee has signed a three-year deal with the Bulls, and RugbyPass reports the move is a swap deal that brings hooker Esethu Mnebelele to Durban. Saturday is set to be his last appearance for the Sharks before he heads north. Coach JP Pietersen was candid: “It is what it is. Players want to move on. They want to challenge their journey somewhere else. But it gives opportunity.” He added that he was “just grateful that I have had time with him”.
The round 1 performance
Pietersen admitted to nerves about his side against the Ospreys. “If you look at our team today, we looked at this as a young backline and I was quite nervous as a coach,” he said. Giliomee helped settle them.
His first try came in the 27th minute. IOL described how he “accelerated into a gap with blistering speed, leaving the Ospreys cover defence in his wake to complete a sensational solo try.” Rugby365 noted he took the ball near midfield and “evaded several defenders with a weaving run on his way to the tryline.” O’Sullivan called it “a composite of excellence” that “highlighted the essential attributes of timing, acceleration, footwork, balance and peripheral vision.”
The second, in the 67th minute, showed a different skill. After what IOL called “a textbook sequence of draw-and-pass skills across the field”, the ball reached Giliomee wide and he finished in the corner with composure. The Citizen reported he nearly added a third, only to be tackled off the ball while chasing a kick.
“Luan is an exceptional talent. You can see what he’s got. He understands the game. He understands space. He’s got speed,” Pietersen told IOL. “That was the first time I saw him running that fast, so he’s got speed, and he’s got a kicking game too. Unbelievable talent.”
Background and route to the Sharks
Giliomee came through at Charlie Hofmeyr High School in the Boland. He made his URC debut for the Sharks last season in a 45-0 win over Munster and scored a try on the day, one of two URC appearances in that campaign. He has also played for the Blitzboks and for SA A, kicking two conversions in the 40-0 win over Zimbabwe.
In July he helped the Junior Springboks defend their World Rugby U20 Championship title in Georgia. A red card in the semi-final against England was overturned by a disciplinary panel, which found the incident “did not involve foul play”, clearing him for the final against France.
He then made his Currie Cup debut at fullback against the Stormers on 2 August. RugbyPass statistics show five Currie Cup appearances this year, with four try assists, four line breaks and 19 defenders beaten.
At 175cm and 81kg, he can cover scrumhalf, flyhalf and fullback. The Irish Times reports flyhalf is his preferred position, but as O’Sullivan put it, “It’s in the 15 jersey that he’s got the chance to shine in the URC.”
What Leinster will test
Leinster arrive wounded but dangerous. They lost 27-26 to the Lions in Johannesburg in round 1, conceding a 79th-minute try, though a late try after the hooter earned them two log points. They will be without flyhalf Harry Byrne and back-row Max Deegan, both ruled out with concussion.
Their game in Johannesburg offers clues. Rugby365 reported Leinster dominated territory and possession early and used a 50/22 from Charlie Tector to win field position. A side that comfortable with the boot will test the Sharks’ back three, putting Giliomee’s positioning and kicking returns under scrutiny.
The bigger test may be defensive. IOL describes Leinster as a “well-oiled machine” with lightning-quick recycle speed, and the Sharks conceded four tries to the Ospreys. Sharks defence coach Joey Mongalo summed up the danger: “It’s hard to defend against quick ball. When a team gets quick ball, you aren’t defending any more, you’re scrambling.” When the line scrambles, the fullback is the last man standing.
What to watch on Saturday
Watch Giliomee in broken play. His first try against the Ospreys started with the ball in his hands near halfway, and if Leinster kick as much as they did in Johannesburg, he will get chances to counter. Watch, too, how he links with the rest of a young backline that includes Janco Purchase, who impressed as a late change last week.
There is a subplot at fullback as well. Leinster’s own 20-year-old 15, Todd Lawlor, ran 144 metres and beat six defenders on debut against the Lions, according to SA Rugby magazine. Two young fullbacks, both with something to prove.
Kick-off in Durban is 18:30 SAST, per IOL.
A farewell worth watching
Giliomee joins the Bulls after Saturday, but he has one more chance to show Durban what it is losing. Against the URC champions, there is no bigger stage to say goodbye.
Sources used
- https://rugby365.com/tournaments/united-rugby-championship/luan-giliomee-stars-as-sharks-see-off-ospreys-in-durban/ (checked 05:40 SAST): 41-24, weaving run, 67th-minute try, man of the match, Janco Purchase
- https://iol.co.za/sport/rugby/urc/2026-09-27-young-sharks-rise-to-the-occasion-as-pietersen-hails-next-generation/ (checked 05:41 SAST): Pietersen quotes, Bulls move, age
- https://iol.co.za/sport/rugby/urc/2026-09-26-luan-gilliomee-double-powers-sharks-to-bonus-point-urc-triumph-over-ospreys/ (checked 05:52 SAST): try times and descriptions
- https://www.citizen.co.za/sport/rugby/jp-pietersen-sharks-ospreys-urc-win-luan-giliomee/ (checked 05:44 SAST): last Sharks match, near hat-trick, Pietersen “grateful”
- https://www.rugbypass.com/news/luan-giliomee-the-exceptional-talent-the-sharks-are-set-to-lose-to-urc-rivals/ (checked 05:44 SAST): swap deal with Mnebelele
- https://www.news24.com/sport/rugby/urc/bulls-announce-host-of-signings-including-bok-pivot-bosch-and-young-gun-giliomee-20260511-0613 (checked 05:44 SAST): three-year Bulls deal
- https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/2026/09/30/leinster-enter-the-shark-tank-needing-a-plan-to-deal-with-luan-giliomee/ (checked 05:52 SAST): school, U20 title, Munster debut, size, positions, comparisons
- https://www.sarugbymag.co.za/leinster-need-plan-for-luan/ (checked 05:45 SAST): O’Sullivan quotes, Lawlor stats
- https://www.citizen.co.za/sport/rugby/gilliomee-junior-springboks-joining-sharks-stormers-currie-cup/ (checked 05:48 SAST): Junior Springboks, Blitzboks, SA A
- https://www.citizen.co.za/sport/rugby/young-stars-muller-giliomee-sharks-stormers-currie-cup/ (checked 05:48 SAST): Currie Cup debut, URC appearances, SA A conversions
- https://www.rugbypass.com/players/luan-giliomee/ (checked 05:48 SAST): Currie Cup statistics
- https://www.sabcsport.com/rugby/news/junior-bok-star-giliomee-cleared-to-face-france-in-final-after-red-card-overturned (checked 05:49 SAST): red card overturned
- https://www.the42.ie/leinster-lions-match-report-2-7174467-Sep2026/ (checked 05:50 SAST): late tries in Lions v Leinster
- https://rugby365.com/tournaments/united-rugby-championship/lions-seal-dramatic-win-over-leinster/ (checked 05:51 SAST): Leinster territory and possession, Tector 50/22
- https://rugbypass.com/news/leinster-lose-two-players-ahead-of-trip-to-sharks (checked 05:50 SAST): Byrne and Deegan out
- https://iol.co.za/sport/rugby/urc/2026-09-29-sharks-prepare-to-fight-fire-with-fire-in-ultimate-urc-test-against-leinster/ (checked 05:52 SAST): Leinster recycle speed, Mongalo quote, 18:30 kick-off