ORIGINS: It's horsefly v horsefly as Lions host Sharks

Durban High School is more famous for its cricketers than its rugby players. That's understandable, since DHS produced both Barry Richards and Hashim Amla, two of the greatest batting talents the world has ever seen.

But when the Lions host the Sharks at Ellis Park on Saturday March 2nd, two 'horseflies' will be in opposition to each other on the rugby field.

Sharks flanker, Phepsi Buthelezi was head boy at DHS in 2017 and captain of the rugby side which included Lions halfback, Sanele Nohamba.

Buthelezi is from Hluhluwe in the far north of KwaZulu Natal, while Nohamba is from the famous Eastern Cape town of Alice.

Nohamba went to Dale Junior and received the prestigious Trevor Bennison scholarship, which is awarded to the most talented schoolboy sportsman scouted by DHS as a youngster in primary school. As the Lions have found to their delight, at school Nohamba was as adept at flyhalf as he was at scrumhalf and spent long, lonely hours honing his kicking skills.

BORN LEADER

Buthelezi was identified as a born leader at a young age and one of his career highlights was leading DHS to victory over arch rivals Glenwood in his matric year, the first victory over the Green Machine in 11 years. In 2018 he captained SA to the bronze medal in the Under 20 World Championship held in France.

Nohamba was also part of that squad and tussled for the No 9 jersey with Jaden Hendrickse. Nohamba, Hendrickse and Buthelezi all made their Sharks debut in 2019. Hendrickse's brother, Jordan will soon be leaving the Lions to join the Sharks, but as with the Nohamba/Buthelezi axis, there will be no love lost as soon as the whistle blows on Saturday.