Du Preez leaves Sharks

Super Rugby coach Robert du Preez, who calls his media critics "cockroaches", has quit the underperforming Durban-based Sharks a year before his contract expired, the South African side said on Wednesday. 

The Sharks, stacked with Springboks players, won only seven of 16 regular season matches this year before suffering a 25-point quarter-final hiding from the ACT Brumbies in Australia.

"The decision is a mutual one and both the Sharks and Du Preez have parted ways amicably," a statement said.

Du Preez has been accused of "nepotism" by the media after regularly preferring off-form son Robert junior at fly-half ahead of consistently impressive Curwin Bosch.

Robert, 25, was one of three sons of the former Springbok scrumhalf who played for the Sharks this year, the others being loose forwards Daniel and Jean-Luc.

The three brothers will play for the Sale Sharks in the English Premiership in the coming season.