Western Province fan will accept a Sharks jersey after Currie Cup loss - but will never switch loyalty

Despondent‚ defeated and depressed - that was the feeling captured on rugby fan Jacques van Wyk's face as he watched his team‚ Western Province‚ defeated by the Sharks in the Currie Cup final over the weekend.

As Van Wyk sat in the stands of Newlands Stadium in Cape Town‚ he had no idea that the cameras had spotted him in the crowds.

Sporting a glum look on his face‚ he sat with his arms folded across his chest‚ clad in his Western Province jersey.

A day after his image was captured‚ the Sharks posted it on their Facebook page. 

"Help us find this man. We are looking for any information connected to the man in this photo. We would like to send him a jersey to cheer him up‚" the team wrote.

The search began‚ and soon the post had been shared almost 8‚000 times. Within moments‚ Van Wyk had been tracked down.

Speaking to TimesLIVE on Monday morning‚ Van Wyk said he was still sad that his team had lost. "But the best team won at the end of the day‚" he said.

He chuckled at his instant fame.

"My phone has been ringing non-stop. Guys from all over the country have been calling and I have people 'Facebooking' me from the UK and the United States. The majority are saying they feel the same way I was feeling‚" he said.

Asked whether the Sharks had made contact yet‚ Van Wyk said he was still waiting.

He said he would be willing to accept a jersey from them - but that didn't mean he would be ditching his team any time soon.

"I would [accept the jersey] for the love of the game. I would wear it for just one photograph though - not again!"

Despite the recent loss‚ Van Wyk remains a staunch Western Province supporter. "I was born and grew up in the Cape‚ so I will always support my team‚” he said.

“I will only support [the Sharks] when they play against the [Blue] Bulls!"