Brotherly love: Hendrikse duo unite at halfback as Sharks target Lions in Ellis Park friendly

As the Sharks head to Johannesburg for their final United Rugby Championship (URC) warm-up clash against a formidable Lions side at Ellis Park on Friday (15:00 kickoff), all eyes are on a rejuvenated backline powered by a familiar family pairing.

Co-captain Jaden Hendrikse and his brother Jordan start together at halfback, giving head coach JP Pietersen an explosive, international-grade spine as the Durban outfit locks in final preparations for its 2026/27 season opener against the Ospreys at home on 26 September.

For both brothers, Friday’s test at Ellis Park carries personal weight as they look to build momentum following an injury-disrupted 2025/26 campaign.

Jaden, who has won 20 Springbok caps, was restricted to just 10 URC appearances for the Sharks last season. Meanwhile, Jordan, who earned his second Bok cap in the same international window, featured in eight URC games last term, regularly shifting between flyhalf and fullback.

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They will do battle with the Lions XV in the City Of Gold on Friday afternoon 🏙️

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— Sharks Rugby Club (@SharksRugby) September 10, 2026

Now starting together at 9 and 10, the brothers enter the new campaign with a point to prove. Pietersen praised their off-field dedication, noting that their work ethic sets the benchmark for the squad ahead of the 2026/27 season.

“They are complete professionals who work extremely hard on and off the field. They love rugby, they watch rugby, they’re obsessed with the game. They push each other on the field, make jokes, and it’s just great to see the two brothers together,” Pietersen said at a pre-match media conference on Thursday.

“What a great way for Jordan to gain confidence and cohesion. Playing alongside his brother gives him that belief to perform. They inspire a lot of players in the group with their professionalism. Jaden is hitting personal bests in training, and both are looking fit and strong.

“There’s no pressure on them; tomorrow is simply about getting quality game time, building cohesion, and getting back to playing rugby.”

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— Lions (@LionsRugbyCo) September 8, 2026

While the Hendrikse brothers provide headline pedigree, the supporting cast at Ellis Park highlights the secondary engine driving Pietersen’s squad: a battle-tested Currie Cup pipeline. Rather than viewing the domestic campaign solely through a win-loss lens, Pietersen used it as an active incubator for URC depth.

That strategy pays immediate dividends on Friday, with young hooker Liam van Wyk earning a start and midfielder Janco Purchase slotting into the starting backline, while forward Johan Momsen features on the bench. Breakout star Lyle Matthews misses out due to a minor injury niggle, though he is expected to be fit by the time the URC kicks off.

“If you look at it from a player development point of view, not a results-driven point of view, it was about creating depth and creating players who can put their hand up to play URC,” Pietersen explained. “The Currie Cup did a great job of bringing talent through for us.”

The Ellis Park clash will serve as a non-negotiable benchmark. Facing a Lions team fresh off a strong performance against the All Blacks XV, the Sharks are using the trip to Johannesburg to test new combinations, build cohesion, and prove that their squad depth can withstand championship-level intensity before launching their 2026/27 URC campaign.