Meno Barnard

Industry and physical edge define the way Meno Barnard plays his rugby. A flanker on the books at the Sharks, born on 14 January 2003, he has emerged through the franchise's celebrated development pathways to feature in senior competition. Barnard's value lies in the unglamorous graft of back-row play: contesting hard at the breakdown, getting through a heavy volume of defensive work and disrupting opposition ball. His appearances in the United Rugby Championship and the EPCR Challenge Cup have given him a platform to test himself against seasoned forwards, and he has shown the relentless work rate that loose-forward play demands. As a defensive disruptor he aims to slow opposition attacks and turn over possession, while his carrying adds to the Sharks' forward momentum. Still early in his career, Barnard represents the kind of homegrown forward the Durban club prizes, and continued game time will be key as he looks to establish himself as a regular in a competitive back-row group.