Sharks coach set to face off against son this weekend

On Friday, the Sharks will take on Welsh side, the Scarlets, and it will be a notable occasion for the Plumtree family.

In the Sharks camp, coach John Plumtree will be hoping to lead his side to another much-needed victory in the URC, while his son Taine is expected to lace up his boots for the Scarlets.

Taine, who was born in Swansea while his dad was coaching there, joined the Scarlets from the Blues Super Rugby side last year, and he has already racked up two Test caps for Wales.

Having agreed to join the Scarlets, young Plumtree was fast tracked into Warren Gatland’s Wales World Cup training squad last summer and made his Test debut against England in August.

But a shoulder injury ruled him out of World Cup contention and when it continued to be a problem at regional level the decision was made that he needed surgery.

Now, after five months out, he is back playing for the Scarlets and ready for a very special family occasion.

The younger Plumtree will have a point to prove against the Sharks

Flanker Taine revealed: “There’s been a little bit of chat between me and dad over the last couple of weeks in the lead-up to it, no doubt.

“I stayed at their hotel on Sunday just because I haven’t seen them since September and it was really good catching up.

“It is going to be quite a cool occasion for us. It will be a nice family affair with him upstairs and me down on the pitch.

“There’s no hostility whatsoever. It’s more a bit of a joke between us now. I guess there’s a bit of bragging rights at the dinner table. If I am able to get up, I might finally get the head of the table at dinner when I am back in New Zealand!”

“If he’s happy, I’m happy”

Another interesting side note is the fact that if things worked out differently, the father and son duo could have been together at the Sharks as coach John was keen to bring his boy over to Durban from New Zealand.

Plumtree Snr. has made no secret of the fact he would have liked to work with his son, who played for both the Blues and Wellington in New Zealand.

“I wanted him to come to the Sharks, but as soon as Warren Gatland got involved, it was all over, he was heading for Wales,” said the former All Blacks assistant coach.

“I am really proud of him. He is loving it at the Scarlets. He loves the Welsh people and he is happy. So if he’s happy, I’m happy.”