{
  "id": 10938772,
  "title": "It’s an ‘important week’ for Sharks, says Buthelezi, as they gear up for Leinster clash",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/its-an-important-week-for-sharks-says-buthelezi-as-they-gear-up-for",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-30T12:21:05.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Citizen",
    "slug": "the-citizen",
    "url": "https://www.citizen.co.za/sport/rugby/its-an-important-week-for-sharks-says-buthelezi-as-they-gear-up-for-leinster-clash/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Sharks forward Phepsi Buthelezi expressed optimism about his team's upcoming match against defending champions Leinster, stating that it is an \"important week\" for the Sharks. After a disappointing previous season where they finished 10th in the United Rugby Championship (URC) and missed out on play-offs, the Sharks are aiming to improve upon their recent performance. Their struggles usually arise when they lack their large contingent of Springbok players, which is a recurring issue at the start of the season. However, despite missing their Boks, the Sharks managed to secure a solid 41-24 bonus point win over the Ospreys last week, giving them a strong start to the current campaign. Buthelezi is particularly excited for the challenge, as Leinster will be missing most of their Irish internationals, leaving a weakened team to face the Sharks at Kings Park in Durban. The Sharks' loose forward, Buthelezi, is eager to test himself against the best and believes the team has been well-prepared for the match. He acknowledged that while they have won their first game, there is still room for improvement, but overall, they feel confident in their abilities.",
  "summary": "The Sharks have a golden opportunity to build on their momentum as they welcome a weakened Leinster team to Durban this weekend.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}