The Sharks have announced a partnership that could have the Durban-based team using the Swiss city of Geneva as a base camp to prepare for matches played in Europe.

On Wednesday, the Sharks unveiled their partnership with the Servette de Geneve and the business community of Geneva, that will “focus on growing the sport in the region and the creation of a CSI funding programme that will focus on development and the upliftment of communities in South Africa”.

Part of the partnership also includes plans to expand the Sharks Academy, by opening a division in Geneva.

Commenting on this partnership, Sharks CEO Dr Eduard Coetzee said: “As a global brand, partnering with the Servette de Geneve and the business community in Geneva is very much in line with the Sharks’ objective and focus on taking our brand to the world”.

“The eagerness of the Servette de Geneve and the business community of Geneva is testimony to the strength of the Sharks brand and this will undoubtedly grow the Sharks’ presence in Switzerland and the greater Europe. The team look forward to basing ourselves in Geneva and to utilise the top-class facilities, grow our brand and ultimately the sport we love in the beautiful city of Geneva.

“We continually strive to identify social responsibility initiatives that will benefit our communities in South Africa and this partnership will allow us to raise much-needed funds to bolster our efforts in making a difference in our country. This bi-lateral cooperation will also be focused on the upliftment and expansion of not just rugby in both our regions, but in other key areas such as education, social upliftment and commercial growth.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the business community in Geneva for being so receptive to this partnership and for welcoming us to their region. We cannot wait to get this partnership under way and to create groundbreaking projects in our respective territories that is in line with our global forward-thinking approach.”

This partnership with the Servette de Geneve will be facilitated by Team One Conseil, who is helping to develop the Sharks brand in France and Switzerland and has been mandated to support both parties in the structuring of the partnership.

“We are extremely happy to be involved in the structuring and effective execution of the various elements linked to this partnership. All parties are aligned in terms of a shared vision for this partnership moving forward and creating a commercial model that is mutually beneficial.”