#lalakaifoketi — Public Fediverse posts

OSPREYS: Bonus point the only consolation as Sharks overpower Ospreys in Durban

The Ospreys suffered an opening-weekend United Rugby Championship defeat in South Africa for the second season running, overpowered 41-24 by the Sharks in Durban.

Mark Jones’ side were comprehensively beaten at Kings Park but, just as when they lost at the Bulls in 2025, they at least came away with a four-try bonus point.

The Sharks led 28-14 at the break through tries from Nick Hatton, Manu Tshituka, Luan Giliomee and Lili Bester, with the Ospreys replying through Luke Morgan and co-captain Sam Parry.

Liam Wright’s score on his competitive debut brought the visitors back into it after the restart, but Vusi Moyo’s boot and a second Giliomee try settled it, before Iestyn Hopkins went over late for the bonus point.

A ruthless opening half-hour

The Sharks opened the scoring in the 12th minute, a slick passing move from their own half ending with scrum-half Jayden Hendrikse sending number eight Hatton over from close range.

After a dominant first quarter they extended the lead, a mazy run from centre Murray Koster beating a couple of challenges to create space for Lorenzo Julius and then flanker Tshituka to run in unchallenged.

It went from bad to worse as the hosts raced 21 points clear on the half hour, full-back Giliomee slicing the Ospreys defence open and running unopposed from deep in his own half, Moyo adding the extras.

Morgan and Parry keep them in touch

To their credit the Ospreys hit back immediately. Luke Davies’ box kick was gathered by Wright, the play fed wide to co-captain Owen Watkin, who put Morgan over in the corner. Lawson Creighton’s conversion from out wide brought the fly-half his first points for the club.

But the turning point came when the visitors were caught on the counter. An attacking scrum collapsed with the ball going loose, and a kick to the Ospreys 22 found Bester to restore the commanding advantage and secure the Sharks’ bonus point.

A trademark driving maul narrowed the gap on the final play of the half, Parry touching down from short range after the pack powered towards the line.

Wright’s debut try, then discipline costs them

Knowing they needed a fast start to the second half, the Ospreys got one. Parry found Wright from a scrum and the former Australia captain sprang through a gap to score on his competitive debut for the region.

Creighton’s missed conversion and a couple of Moyo penalties then stretched the lead beyond reach, the Ospreys paying for poor discipline.

With both sides making multiple changes the game became disjointed, and it was the Sharks who scored next with 12 minutes to play, a powerful move ending with the ball worked wide for Giliomee’s second.

The Ospreys huffed and puffed and were rewarded with the bonus-point fourth try, Kieran Hardy slicing through the Sharks defence before being brought down just short, the replacement’s long pass then finding Hopkins to score out wide.

It was a heavy defeat on a day the Sharks impressed on home soil, but the Ospreys leave Durban with a point as they continue their South African tour against the Emirates Lions at Ellis Park in Johannesburg next Saturday (12.45pm kick-off).

Ospreys

Iestyn Hopkins; Tom Rogers, Owen Watkin (co-capt), Lalakai Foketi (Evardi Boshoff 62), Luke Morgan; Lawson Creighton (Harri Wilde 67), Luke Davies (Kieran Hardy 52); Steffan Thomas (Gareth Thomas 45), Sam Parry (co-capt) (Efan Daniel 52), Tom Botha (Rhys Henry 45), James Ratti (Harri Deaves 62), Rhys Davies, Liam Wright (Ryan Smith 52), Ross Moriarty, Morgan Morris.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

OSPREYS: ‘You can’t go in with a survival attitude’: Jones sets the tone for Durban opener
The head coach before the game.

OSPREYS: Four competitive debuts as Parry and Watkin lead side into Durban opener
The team news for the opener.

OSPREYS: ‘Top eight is non-negotiable’: Watkin sets the bar before captaincy bow
The co-captain on the season ahead.

OSPREYS: ‘We lost some leadership’: why Jones turned to Australia after Lake and Morgan left
The recruitment that brought Wright to the region.

Richard Bond

Swansea-based sports journalist.
Twitter: @RichBond00
Email: [email protected]

OSPREYS: Wallaby Lalakai Foketi joins — the second Australia international to sign in a week

The Ospreys have signed current Australia international centre Lalakai Foketi — the second Wallaby to join the club in the space of a week.

Foketi, 31, arrives ahead of the 2026/27 season, days after fellow Australian Liam Wright signed from the Queensland Reds.

Born in New Zealand, Foketi originally came through the Gallagher Chiefs pathway before making his Super Rugby debut for the Rebels in 2014.

He later moved to France to play for Bayonne, before returning to Super Rugby in 2018 and making more than 80 appearances for the Waratahs. Foketi switched back to the Chiefs ahead of last season.

Once described as one of the best strike centres in Super Rugby, Foketi earned a call-up to the Wallabies in 2021 — making his debut against Wales in Cardiff and has eight senior international caps to his name.

His form has continued this season. The club said he was instrumental in the Chiefs’ semi-final win over the Crusaders this week, providing three try assists — said to be the joint-most by any centre in a Super Rugby game since 2020.

Foketi’s arrival comes during one of the most turbulent periods in the Ospreys’ history. The club has spent months under the shadow of the Welsh Rugby Union’s plan to cut the professional game from four regions to three — a restructure that has left every Welsh region facing questions over its future.

Last week the Ospreys signed Welsh rugby’s new Professional Rugby Agreement, ending months of uncertainty — though the deal keeps them tied to a timetable that could still see the number of regions reduced.

Against that backdrop, landing a current international is a notable statement of intent — and it comes as the club prepares to move into a redeveloped St Helen’s next season.

Foketi said he was happy to be joining a club with a proud history.

“I’m really happy to be joining the Ospreys. It’s a club with a proud history and after speaking with Mark, I can see that the team has a clear vision of where it’s striving to be,” he said.

“I’ve heard a lot of good things about the environment here and the passion of the supporters, and I’m looking forward to getting to work with the coaches and my new teammates.”

Head coach Mark Jones said the signing was another boost for the club and its supporters.

“This is another great bit of news for the club and our supporters. Lalakai is an experienced international who can immediately make a real contribution for us both on and off the field,” he said.

“He’s a real all-rounder at centre with what he can offer on the ball and in defence, and we feel he will add even further quality to our already talented group of centres.”

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

OSPREYS: Wallaby captain Liam Wright signs from Queensland Reds
The first Australia international to join the club this week.

WRU: Ospreys sign new professional rugby deal — but threat of cut to three regions still looms
The deal that ended months of uncertainty — but kept the threat alive.

Ospreys unveil St Helen’s redevelopment plans as work begins
The Swansea ground the club will call home from next season.