Durban-born Chris Horak was one of KwaZulu-Natal's premier schoolboy backs at Hilton College, captaining the 1st XV in a standout 2023 season after representing the Sharks at the SA Rugby U18 Academy Week in 2022. From a strong rugby family - his father played in Grey College's unbeaten 1995 side - Horak was invited to the SA Rugby U19 Academy camp in December 2024.
His senior breakthrough came early: in August 2024, still 18, he came off the bench for the Sharks XV in the Currie Cup, featuring in the 44-44 thriller against the Pumas and the 40-21 win over Griquas. He has since progressed through the Hollywoodbets Sharks U19 and U21 structures and was named in the Sharks' 2025 Currie Cup squad.
A composed, versatile playmaker comfortable at flyhalf, fullback or in the outside backs, Horak is regarded as one of the brightest young talents in the Sharks pipeline heading into 2026/27.