David Williams has joined the Sharks coaching staff and will be responsible for their attack during the 2019 Super Rugby campaign.

Williams has a good coaching track record, having coached at Kobe Steelers, London Irish and Bath abroad. Locally Williams has had stints with the Southern Kings and was their attack coach during the 2016 Super Rugby season.

Most recently he was part of the Cheetahs’ Pro14 coaching team. Du Preez will also be assisted by Ricardo Loubscher (backline), Jaco Pienaar (forwards) and Braam van Straaten (defence), while Dick Muir, who assisted the team in 2018, has departed.

‘We went through a thorough interview process to appoint a new attack coach and David really impressed us with his vision,’ Du Preez said. ‘He has an astute rugby brain and will add tremendous value to our attacking play. He joined us on Monday and has fitted in well.’

The Sharks will play two warm-up matches early February 2019 in preparation for their Super Rugby tournament opener against the Sunwolves on Saturday 16 February in Singapore.

Photo: Michael Sheehan/Gallo Images