Hollywoodbets Sharks captain Eben Etzebeth has described his side's 36-22 win over Gloucester in the EPCR Challenge Cup final at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as the greatest of his career with the club. Etzebeth praised the character of his team as it made history as the first South African team to win a European title.
This win secured their place in the Investec Champions Cup for next season and came after a terrible season in the United Rugby Championship in which they missed the playoffs and won only a handful of matches.
Etzebeth pointed to the Sharks' poor season as a key driver in the final.
defense 
85%
Processing completion %
88%
“The motivation (to win) was greater within the team,” Etzeth said. “To turn things around the way we were after where we were four or five months ago was great. There was a huge drive to win the Challenge Cup as the silver lining to our season, which wasn't great.
“If you had told us at the start of the season that we would win the EPCR Challenge Cup and qualify for the Investec Champions Cup, we would have accepted that.
“The win was special, and we felt as if we had left our best performance for last. The players were amazing, and the fitness was amazing.”
Your 2024 #RugbyChallengeCup Champions, @Sharks 🦈 pic.twitter.com/zjLenUfPPe
— EPCR Challenge Cup (@ChallengeCup_) May 24, 2024
“At club level, this is the best memory ever. The last trophy I won (at club level) was the Currie Cup in 2012, so it's been 12 years.
“This is the first international trophy the Sharks have won and becoming the first South African to win in Europe is definitely one of my best memories ever.”
“We wanted to put a lot of pressure on offense because we knew that was probably going to be their strength, so by getting rid of that, we knew we were going to have a good chance,” Hollywoodbets Sharks head coach John Plumtree said.
“I thought the huddle was fantastic, the leadership in the front row was very good, and they got rewards for that. And so was the pressure game from the kicking game.”
“A lot of it was based on pressure on the scoreboard, which we had to continue to build on, and thanks to the players for sticking to the plan.”
The Sharks have one URC game remaining this season and it will be against local rivals Vodacom Bulls.
