News

The Fidelity ADT Lions will be at home this Friday night as they take on the Novavit Griffons from Welkom in the Carling Currie Cup. Kick-off at Emirates Airline Park is at 17:15

Due to a request from the South African Rugby Union (SA Rugby), the Round 1 Vodacom United Rugby Championship fixtures involving the South African teams will now be moved from the weekend of September 20 to avoid a clash with the Carling Currie Cup Final.

Lock forward Ruben Schoeman will lead the Fidelity ADT Lions ahead of their Round 7 clash against DHL Western Province at Emirates Airline Park on Saturday. Kick-off in Johannesburg is at 15:00.

Springboks Quan Horn and Ruan Venter have been included in Saturday's Round 6 Carling Currie Cup clash against the Airlink Pumas at Emirates Airline Park. Kick off in Johannesburg is at 15:00.

The Fidelity ADT Lions travel to Kimberly this weekend ahead of their Round 5 clash against the Suzuki Griquas. Kick off at the Suzuki Stadium on Sunday is at 15:00.

The Springbok bruiser slots back into the loose-trio after an impressive international debut against Portugal in Bloemfontein last week. The men from Doornfontein are back at Emirates Airline Park this Saturday after a hard-fought victory against the Suzuki Griquas last week Friday.

Fresh from their 21-75 victory against the Airlink Pumas nearly a week ago in Mbombela, the Fidelity ADT Lions are back at Emirates Airline Park this Friday for their first home fixture of the 2024 Carling Currie Cup.

Hooker Jaco Visagie will be tasked with leading the Fidelity ADT Lions this Friday for his side’s first Currie Cup match of the season against the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV in Durban. Kick-off is at 17:15.

Emirates Lions utility back Sanele Nohamba was crowned Vodacom United Rugby Championship’s finest by clinching the Player of the Season award for 2023/24.

The Emirates Lions welcome Scottish outfit and log leaders Glasgow Warriors to Emirates Airline Park for Round 17 of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship. Kick-off in Johannesburg is at 16:05. Ivan van Rooyen’s men will see Saturday as another opportunity to cement a play-off spot after a 34-13 bonus point win over Cardiff Rugby last weekend

The Emirates Lions take on Welsh side Cardiff Rugby in a crucial Round 16 match of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship at Emirates Airline Park on Saturday.

The Emirates Lions host current title holders Munster in Round 15 of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship at Emirates Airline Park this Saturday. Fresh from their 44-12 victory against Leinster last week Saturday, the men from downtown Johannesburg are hoping to replicate that performance against another Irish side basking from their win against The Vodacom Bulls at Loftus

The Emirates Lions are back in Johannesburg this weekend when they take on Irish giants Leinster in Round 14 of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship.

The Jaco Visagie led Emirates Lions are in action this Saturday in Treviso against Italian outfit Benetton in a Round of 16 clash of the EPCR Challenge Cup. Kick-off at the Stadio Monigo is at 18:30 (SA time)

The Emirates Lions will look to capitalise on last weekend’s historic victory in Galway when they take on Welsh side Ospreys in Round 13 of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship in Swansea this Saturday.

The Emirates Lions face up to Irish outfit Connacht in Round 12 of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship hoping to be the first South African franchise to get the better of the men from Galway this Saturday.

Emirates Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen makes strategic changes to his half-back pairing ahead of the pivotal Round 11 showdown against the Hollywoodbets Sharks in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship. Catch the action in Johannesburg at 15:00.

The Emirates Lions host the Vodacom Bulls for the return leg of the Jukskei Derby in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship. Kick off at Emirates Airline Park on Saturday is at 15:00.

The Johannesburg-based rugby franchise together with the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) will on 17 February 2024 host the 22nd edition of the popular Shavathon initiative to be hosted at Emirates Airline Park.

A career-ending medical condition has forced talented loosehead prop Rhynardt Rijnsburger to retire from the sport.

The Emirates Lions make the trip across the Jukskei this Saturday for Round 9 of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship against the Vodacom Bulls. Victory for the men from Johannesburg this weekend could see them shift into the play-off spot zone, something head coach Ivan van Rooyen hopes could build confidence ahead of a gruelling local derby calendar.

The Emirates Lions head into Round 4 of the EPCR Challenge Cup for an encounter against Welsh outfit Ospreys in what will be the Johannesburg side’s first home fixture of 2024. After the disappointment of last week’s defeat against Pool B leaders Montpellier, Ivan van Rooyen’s men will be looking at achieving a positive result in front of the Lions faithful this Sunday afternoon at Emirates Airline Park.

It’s one vs two in Round 3 of the EPCR Challenge Cup this Saturday night as the Emirates Lions take on Pool 2 leaders Montpellier.

The Emirates Lions will open their 2023/24 EPCR Challenge Cup account against French outfit USA Perpignan this Sunday at the Stade Aimé Giral.

Emirates Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen has named the 26 players who will do duty for him in France for his sides’ first Investec Challenge Cup outing of the 2023/24 season against Perpignan this Sunday.

Emirates Lions mentor Ivan van Rooyen has named an unchanged match 23 to take on Dragons RFC in Round 7 of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship at Emirates Airlines Park this Saturday.

The Emirates Lions are back at Emirates Airline Park this Saturday where they will take on Zebre Parma in Round 6 of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship. Fresh from a 4-week tour of Europe, the Joburg-based side will be eager to collect maximum points at home against the Italians, followed by a visit by the Dragons next Saturday (2 December)

The Emirates Lions face Irish outfit Ulster for their final tour match in Round 5 of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship. Kick-off is at 21:35 (SA time) on Friday evening at Kingspan Stadium.

The Emirates Lions will on Saturday trial a new-look half back combination when they take on the Scarlets in Wales in Round 4 of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship. Lions boss Ivan van Rooyen has tasked his new pairing of Morne van den Berg (scrumhalf) and Sanele Nohamba (flyhalf) to rally the backline against a Welsh outfit fresh from a win against Cardiff last Saturday.

Emirates Lions Head Coach Ivan van Rooyen has named Morgan Naude and flanker Hanru Sirgel in his starting XV ahead of their Sunday afternoon clash against Benetton Rugby in Round 3 of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship.

Speedster Edwill van der Merwe returns to the Emirates Lions starting XV as they take on Scottish outfit Edinburgh for Round 2 of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship. The Emirates Lions Player of the Year missed out on selection last week due to injury, but slots right back into his familiar left-wing position after being cleared to play.

Coach Ivan van Rooyen has named an exciting match 23 ahead of his side’s opening Vodacom United Rugby Championship encounter against two-time finalists the DHL Stormers at Emirates Airline Park on Saturday.

The Lions Rugby Company have announced the appointment of Barend Pieterse as the new Emirates Lions forwards and lineout coach.

Former Springbok and two-time British and Irish Lions series winner Morne Steyn joins the Emirates Lions ahead of the 2023/24 Vodacom United Rugby Championship and EPCR Challenge Cup season.

The Lions, in partnership with the Gift of the Givers Foundation, recently visited the cholera-hit area of Hammanskraal to deliver much needed relief in the form of bottled water. Jordan Hendrikse, Jarod Cairns and Sibusiso Sangweni from the Lions were on hand to aid residents with water resources, sourced directly from the Emirates Airline Park water plant.

It was a disappointing trip to Durban for the Fidelity ADT Lions as the Cell C Sharks overcame a poor start to clinch the Round 13 fixture 29-21 and secure a top spot in the Premier Division standings with their seventh-consecutive win in the competition

The Fidelity ADT Lions scored four tries in the 32-12 win against DHL WP on Friday to keep their hopes alive in competition where play-off positions have reached crunch time.

Emirates Lions Forwards and Lineouts coach Albert van den Berg has opted not to renew his contract with the Lions Rugby Company.

The Emirates Lions take on Irish club Leinster in the second match of this weekend’s Vodacom United Rugby Championship double header of fixtures taking place at Emirates Airline Park. The Vodacom Bulls take on Zebra Parma of Italy in the match before at 13:00, in what will be a full day of rugby at the iconic stadium.

The Emirates Lions welcome French giants Racing 92 in their Round of 16 crunch match of the EPCR Challenge Cup at Emirates Airline Park on Saturday. Kick off is at 18:30 SA time.

The Fidelity ADT Lions are in action this Saturday at Emirates Airline Park against the Cell C Sharks in Round 4 of the Currie Cup. Kick-off is at 15:30.

The Emirates Lions travel across the Jukskei this Saturday when they take on the Vodacom Bulls in their Round 15 clash of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship at Loftus Versfeld in the country’s capital.

MyPlayers- The Rugby Players' Organisation and the Lions Rugby Company recently met to discuss the roll-out and subsequent feedback process of their provincial Sport Psychological Fitness (SPF) assessment initiative.

The Emirates Lions continue to enjoy the pleasure of playing on their home turf at Emirates Airline Park this Saturday for their rescheduled Round 6 fixture Vodacom United Rugby Championship encounter against Scottish outfit Glasgow Warriors.

The Emirates Lions return to Emirates Airline Park this Saturday for their Round 14 Vodacom United Rugby Championship encounter against the Cell C Sharks.

The Lions Rugby Company is proud to welcome The Capital Hotel & Apartments as the official accommodation partner.

The Springboks will kick off a bumper 2023 season against Australia in Pretoria in July in the opening round of the shortened Castle Lager Rugby Championship and will face Argentina in Johannesburg in their final match on home soil before the build-up to their Rugby World Cup defence starts.

The Emirates Lions take on Irish club Connacht Rugby in Round 13 of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship at the Sportsground in Galway this Saturday evening.

The Emirates Lions take on Dragons RFC this Sunday in Round 4 of the EPCR Challenge Cup at the Rodney Parade stadium in Newport.

The Emirates Lions continue their EPCR Challenge Cup journey when they take on French outfit Stade Francais this Saturday at the Stade Jean Bouin stadium in Paris. Undefeated in the competition, the team from Ellis Park will look to improving their recent run of results with a positive outcome against the Pink Army.

The Emirates Lions went down 33-3 to Irish outfit Munster in Round 12 of the Vodacom United Championship at Musgrave Park in Cork. Trailing by just nine points at the halftime break, both teams had to navigate gusty winds coupled by non-stop rain for atleast 50 minutes of the encounter.

Emile van Heerden will make his debut this Friday at Musgrave Park as the Emirates Lions take on Irish outfit Munster in Round 12 of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship (VURC). The exciting young recruit takes his place in the number 7 jumper alongside Jarod Cairns and Emmanuel Tshituka.

Emirates Lions Head Coach Ivan van Rooyen has named a 29-man touring squad for his team’s upcoming fixtures in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship and EPCR Challenge Cup.

The Emirates Lions make the trip to the Mother City this weekend to face current champions DHL Stormers in Round 11 of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship on New Year's Eve at the DHL Stadium.

The Emirates Lions travel to Durban this Friday to face the Cell C Sharks for Round 10 of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship. Kick-off is at 17:00. The men from Doornfontein head into this game on the back of a four-match unbeaten streak at home in all competition and will look to take that momentum into the local derby.

The Emirates Lions will make history this Saturday as the first of two South African teams to participate in the 2022/23 European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) Challenge Cup against the Dragons from Wales at Emirates Airline Park. The Toyota Cheetahs take on Pau in the following match.

Springbok Jaco Kriel returns to the starting XV after a lengthy period on the sidelines.

Speedster Rabz Maxwane makes a return to the Emirates Lions Match 23 for the first time this season.

The Emirates Lions went down 31-22 to the DHL Stormers at Emirates Lions Park in Round 7 of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship this past Saturday.

The Emirates Lions have made one forced change ahead of their local United Rugby Championship derby against DHL Stormers.

The Emirates Lions have announced young Jordan Hendrikse as their starting ten for Saturday’s Round 6 fixture against Glasgow Warriors at Emirates Airline Park.

The Emirates Lions have announced the return of Willem ‘The Bone Collector’ Alberts to the starting XV as they take on Irish giants Ulster.

Explosive loose-forward Ruan Venter makes his return to the Emirates Lions starting XV this Friday for his team's final Vodacom United Rugby Championship tour match against Edinburgh on Friday.

The Emirates Lions notched up their second win of their 3-week tour against Cardiff Rugby on Friday night.

The Emirates Lions will look at clinching their second win on tour when they take on Cardiff Rugby in Round 3 of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship this Friday at Cardiff Arms Park.

Emirates Lions have named their match 23 for their Vodacom United Rugby Championship fixture against Welsh side Ospreys at the Swansea.com stadium.

The Emirates Lions will host the Vodacom Bulls in their opening fixture of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship this Saturday at Emirates Airline Park

The Emirates Lions are heading to Paris and the UK for the 22/23 EPCR Challenge Cup season.

The Emirates Lions will be making a historic first appearance in the upcoming EPCR competition later this year.

Jordan Hendrikse expressed his delight on joining the Blitzboks.

Instrumental lock forward Reinhard Nothnagel wears the captain's armband in a fixture where the Johannesburg-based outfit will aim to finish on a high in Newport.

Lock Reinhard Nothnagel leads the Emirates Lions for his team's final Vodacom United Rugby Championship match in Wales.

The Emirates Lions announced their match 23 to face Italian club Benetton Rugby this Saturday in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship at Emirates Airline Park.

Captain Burger Odendaal will don the number 12 jersey this Saturday the Emirates Lions take on Irish team, Connacht at Emirates Airline Park in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship.

The Emirates Lions will look to make it five in a row when they face the Cell C Sharks in Durban this Saturday in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship.

Asenathi Ntlabakanye, fresh from Vodacom United Rugby Championship duty, assumes the captain's armband to lead a pack which features powerhouse lock forward PJ Steenkamp.

Fans don't realise it but we really appreciate their support from the stands. Ultimately as players we do it for them.

Emirates Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen has named loosehead prop JP Smith to start for his team's encounter against Scottish outfit Edinburgh in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship at Emirates Airline Park this Saturday.

The Emirates Lions are set to unleash the Tshituka brothers against Ospreys this Friday night in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship at Emirates Airline Park.

Burger Odendaal takes over the captaincy reigns in the absence of Jaco Kriel for the Emirates Lions when they take on Munster this weekend.

Sunday’s clash takes place four months after the original fixture was postponed amid Covid-19 concerns.

The two teams last met in the 2021 final of the competition which saw the home team clinch a 36-35 victory over their coastal visitors.

Team Announcement | Emirates Lions & Lions u20 | VURC | SA Rugby u20 Cup

Sigma Lions vs Cell C Sharks team announcement

The Emirates Lions next face the DHL Stormers on 12 February at Emirates Airline Park.

Emirates Lions team release ahead of return leg of the VURC fixture against the Vodacom Bulls.

We catch up with Emirates Lions flyhalf Fred Zeilinga.

Head of athletic performance at the Lions Stefan van Deventer is the man tasked with keeping the Emirates Lions in top physical condition.

Emirates Lions vs Vodacom Bulls | Vodacom URC | Match Report

Emirates Lions vs Vodacom Bulls | Vodacom URC | Team Announcement | Emirates Airline Park | 15:00

The Emirates Lions name their match day 23 to face the Cell C Sharks on Saturday, 22 January at Emirates Airline Park. Kick-off is at 15:00.

Former Junior Springboks Tyler Bocks and Manuel Rass link up in the midfield. Scrumhalf Ginter Smuts starts in the number 9 position to face his old side.

Tight head prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye will captain the Sigma Lions ahead of their first Carling Currie Cup encounter against DHL Western Province in Cape Town on Saturday.

Lions and Springbok scrumhalf, Ross Cronje has called time on his professional rugby career.

The Sigma Lions will open their Carling Currie Cup campaign against the DHL Western Province in Cape Town on Saturday, 15 January at 17:00.

The former Stade Français assistant coach is a big advocate of a collective effort which will ultimately reap results for an Emirates Lions side that has displayed passages of positive play in the VURC.

Mziwakhe Nkosi will lead the Sigma Lions ahead of the 2022 Carling Currie Cup campaign. The former SA Schools mentor will be assisted by former Springbok Wessel Roux (Lions U20 Head Coach), Phillip Lemmer (two-time Vodacom Super Rugby final Assistant Coach) and Wynand Ellis (Lions U20 Assistant Coach).

The Lions Rugby Company have secured the services of New Nations Puma players Pieter Jansen van Vuren (lock), Morgan Naude (prop), Matt More (centre) and Ginter Smuts (scrumhalf).

The Emirates Lions take on the Cell C Sharks in Round 8 of the VURC at Emirates Airline Park on 22 January.

The Carling Currie Cup will kick off next month with a seven-team Premier Division, following an online meeting of the General Council of the South African Rugby Union on Friday.

Lions players Jordan Hendrikse and Henco van Wyk have both been nominated for this year's SA Rugby prestigious awards.

The Emirates Lions left Cape Town victorious after securing a bonus point win against the DHL Stormers in Cape Town during Round 7 of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship. The final score read 19-37.

We had a quick catch-up with Sti Sithole, loosehead prop of the Emirates Lions ahead of this weekend's Vodacom URC match against the DHL Stormers in Cape Town.

Experienced prop Jannie du Plessis comes in as cover for the injured Dreyer in a match which will see speedster Edwill van der Merwe make his Emirates Lions debut against his former franchise.

Two South African United Rugby Championship derbies originally scheduled for February 2022 have been brought forward and will be played in Durban and Cape Town this weekend.

Due to the sudden developments connected with the new COVID-19 variant (B.1.1.529) that have immediately placed a number of countries, including South Africa, on the UK and EU travel red lists, the scheduled Round 6 and 7 United Rugby Championship fixtures set to take place in South Africa over the next two weekends have been postponed and will be rescheduled later this season.

New Emirates Lions recruit, Edwill van der Merwe is set to make his debut for the Johannesburg side when the Lions take on Cardiff Rugby on Sunday in Round 6 of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship (VURC) at Emirates Airline Park.

Emirates Lions CEO Rudolf Straeuli and Head Coach Ivan van Rooyen briefed the media today ahead of the team’s first home game of the Vodacom Rugby Championship against Cardiff Rugby.

Emirates Lions forwards coach, Albert van den Berg believes studying opposition tactics remain a crucial aspect of team preparation. The former Bok lock will be at the helm of his team’s forward and line-out play ahead of their first home fixture against Cardiff Rugby in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship (VURC) at Emirates Airline Park on Sunday, 28 November.

The Emirates Lions have resumed their preparations for the Vodacom United Rugby Championship after a short break, and after a busy week of training, we had a catch up with Lions head coach, Ivan van Rooyen.

Tiaan Swanepoel and Willem Alberts are both fit to play after long term injuries.

Emirates Lions lock forward, Wilhelm van der Sluys has called time on his professional rugby career.

A man of the match performance by Jurich Claasens with both the boot and general play ensured the Lions U20 played tactical rugby in key areas of the field.

"Our approach will not be too different. Obviously, they have grown as a team as well, and there is just a bigger responsibility on us to execute our plans better this time around," explains Roux.

Looking ahead to this weekend's SA Rugby U20 Cup Final at Emirates Airline Park on Saturday, Selengbe describes the tournament as being a "blast" so far.

Ruan Venter has displayed sterling performances in this year’s SA Rugby u20 competition so far, with the latest of those on show against the Cell C Sharks u20 in the semi-final at Emirates Airline Park. Ruan put in a solid shift, having made 14 tackles and 12 carries.

Emirates Airline Park suite owners and 2020 Lions Members will be able to attend the SA Rugby u20 Cup final between Lions and Western Province.

South Africa will be the destination for four European teams when the Vodacom Bulls, Emirates Lions, Cell C Sharks and DHL Stormers host their first Vodacom United Rugby Championship matches next month.

With round 6 and 7 of the VURC set to take place in South Africa on 28 November and 4 December respectively, the Emirates Lions are backing themselves to collect points at Emirates Airline Park.

The Emirates Lions will head to Belfast in their final tour fixture of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship (VURC) to face Irish side, Ulster at Kingspan Stadium on Friday.

We caught up with former Springbok, Lions and Ulster forward, Franco van der Merwe on all things life, the Vodacom United Rugby Championship (VURC) and his thoughts on the Ulster vs Emirates Lions in Belfast for round four of the tournament.

The most recent announcement by Government to allow for return of spectators at events is certainly the most positive news we have received in a very long time!

Fred Zeilinga has joined the touring squad as cover for Jordan Hendrikse & Eddie Fouché.

Captain Burger Odendaal expressed his team's disappointment post-match whilst heaping praise on the effort put in.

Strauss, who appeared over 50 times for the Lions and has a century of appearances for the Glasgow-based Warriors, suggests it will be a tough encounter.

Emirates Lions head coach, Ivan van Rooyen named a new-look match 23 ahead of his team's third round Vodacom United Rugby Championship (VURC) fixture against Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun Stadium on Saturday.

The Johannesburg side went down 36-13 to the Scarlets in Llanelli after showing glimpses of positive play in both halves of the game in front of an 8000- strong crowd at Parc y Scarlets stadium.

The Emirates Lions have named an unchanged match 23 to face Welsh side Scarlets for their second round fixture of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship (VURC) at the Parc y Scarlets stadium in Llanelli, Wales on Friday.

The former 1995 Rugby World Cup winner spent two years in the region, with half of that time at the Petrarca Sport before returning to South Africa for the country's first ever international rugby showpiece.

The Emirates Lions have named a strong 23-man side to face Italian-based outfit Zebre in their opening fixture of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship match on Friday in Parma.

Italian athleisure brand Macron have partnered with the Emirates Lions in a deal which will see the Johannesburg team appear in the traditional red and white strip featuring the Macron logo ahead of their opening fixture against Zebre on 24 September in Parma.

Sasko Ndlovu is back at the helm, and will look to steer this young side to their fourth victory of the season.

The Emirates Lions have today announced a 33-man touring squad ahead of their inaugural United Rugby Championship (URC) campaign.

The Lions travelled to Bloemfontein on Saturday and returned from the Toyota Stadium with a full house of points.

The Lions Rugby Company have today announced the appointment of three former Springboks to bolster their coaching setup ahead of the inaugural United Rugby Championship (URC) competition starting 24 September 2021.

The Lions not only secured a four-try bonus point win at Emirates Airline Park, but they also managed to keep the Cell C Sharks from gaining any log points from the trip

The Lions Rugby Co wishes Courtnall and his family all the best with their new journey. Thank you for the memories!

PJ Botha and Carlu Sadie are welcomed back to the fray, while Emmanuel Tshituka, Ross Cronje and Dan Kriel will get starting berths.

Jannie du Plessis, Carlu Sadie and Mark Snyman will sit this match out, while Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Chergin Fillies and MJ Pelser will don the red and white jersey. Ruan Dreyer is on family responsibility leave due to the birth of his twins.

In a short turn around from Wednesday, Sigma Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen has made some rotational changes to the team that will host the Vodacom Bulls at Emirates Airline Park on Saturday.

After 12 tries in Bloemfontein, the final score is 44 all.

Due to pre-cautionary medical protocols, the Sigma Lions team to face the Toyota Cheetahs in Bloemfontein this evening will be captained by Burger Odendaal.

Kriel, who has previously captained the Lions, will make his 51st appearance for the Joburg-based side when he takes to the field tomorrow night.

The Sigma Lions are coming home with the win after beating the Tafel Lager Griquas 45-42 on Wednesday, 6 August.

In the backline Burger Odendaal and Duncan Matthews is welcomed back to the fray. Burger will be running out in his 50th Currie Cup match.

The Sigma Lions team will be announced on Thursday, 05 August. 

Sibusiso Sangweni will get a starting berth after an early injury forced Roelof Smit to leave the field in last week’s Carling Currie Cup match against the Vodacom Bulls, while Morne van den Berg will bring energy from the bench.

Wandisile Simelane is back from Bok duty and will start, along with Roelof Smit, Vincent Tshituka, Courtnall Skosan and Dan Kriel.

Sigma Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen has made several changes to the side that will host the Tafel Lager Griquas at Emirates Airline Park on Wednesday afternoon.

FP started his professional career at the Lions, where he made his senior debut in 2016 in the Currie Cup

Furthermore, the Women’s First Division Final, between the Mastercard Golden Lions and Free State, also scheduled for Emirates Airline Park, has been postponed.

The Cell C Sharks’ match against the Sigma Lions in the Carling Currie Cup on Saturday has been cancelled with a decision on the points allocation to be confirmed.

Jordan Hendrikse is back and ready to start for the Sigma Lions when they meet the British and Irish Lions at Emirates Airline Park on Saturday.

Lions Rugby Company is delighted to announce that Sigma Connected will be the new title holder for the Carling Currie Cup 2021 season, launching their partnership with this weekend’s match against the British & Irish Lions at Emirates Airline Park on Saturday, 03 July 2021.

The Lions players and management, who will head into the bubble ahead of their match against the British and Irish Lions on the 3rd of July at Emirates Airline Park.

In a short turn-around from their last match on Friday, the team welcomes back numerous players. These include Ruben Schoeman, Jaco Visagie and Morné van den Berg. Jannie du Plessis, Jaco Kriel, MJ Pelser, Roelof Smit and Divan Rossouw are returning to play and busy with preparations for the upcoming fixtures.

Exciting youngsters like Morne Brandon, Banele Mthenjane, Ruhan Straeuli, Emmanuel Tshituka and Aidyn Cupido will all look to make their debuts from the bench.

“While the cancellation is unfortunate, their approach ensures that the risk of cancellation of their match against the British & Irish Lions in the Castle Lager Lions Series on 3 July is well managed.”

The Lions’ first try, in the tenth minute by Andre Warner, saw the scrumhalf take a quick tap and go when he saw the gap and went for it. And it was just reward for the men in red who camped out on the Sharks goal line from the outset of the game.

Going into their third home game in this competition, the Lions will take inspiration from their last performance on home soil. A look at the stats from the tournament highlight two Lions players who have had sterling performances. EW Viljoen is second on the list with his 43 carries, just one behind the 44 of Damian Willemse, while MJ Pelser, together with Lukhanyo Am are the turn-over kings with their four each.

As players, we challenge one another to get better, and I can learn a lot from all the players in our team. Team always first.

Treviso’s Stadio di Monigo will play host to the Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup ‘North v South’ Final on June 19 thanks to the support of the Federazione Italiana Rugby (FIR) and the Italian government. 

The Lions were good at converting their opportunities into points. This started in the 12th minute when Wandisile Simelane read the situation and snapped up a loose ball on the Stormers goal-line to score the first of five tries. 

The Emirates Lions continue to work hard to achieve consistency as they head into their first home-game of the Rainbow Cup SA against the DHL Stormers at Emirates Airline Park on Saturday.

Vincent Tshituka again showed his class as he went over with seconds remaining in the Rainbow Cup SA match against the Cell C Sharks in Durban on Saturday for the Emirates Lions’ bonus point try in their 26-34 loss.

The Emirates Lions team to face the Cell C Sharks in Durban at Jonsson Kings Park (16:00) on Saturday show four changes for their second Rainbow Cup SA encounter.

The Emirates Lions had a disappointing start to their Rainbow Cup SA campaign as they went down 22-9 to the Vodacom Bulls at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

The Lions are known for backing their youngsters that have continuously come through their ranks and Ivan Van Rooyen clearly did not waver from this viewpoint.

The Lions Rugby Company has released Elton Jantjies for an opportunity as medical joker with French club Pau

The Lions have given all their players an opportunity during these preparation games and by next week everyone returning to action should also get a run.

The Lions Rugby Company had 70 players and staff tested for Covid-19 on Monday 15 March and all have been cleared with negatives results.

The Lions Rugby Company (Pty) Ltd. and Dylan Smith have agreed to a mutual separation with immediate effect.

Reinhard Nothnagel has extended his contract with the Lions Rugby Company for another three years and have captained the Lions in their first two preparation games.

The Lions managed to secure a 54-24 win against the EP Elephants in what must go down as one of the most error ridden, stoppage filled matches in a long time.

The Lions team that travels to Eastern Province will give another host of young players the opportunity to showcase their talents when they face the EP Elephants on Wednesday afternoon.

The story of how a rugby stadium started bottling natural spring water is worth telling.

Former Lions lock Martin Muller and three of his teammates at the Valley RFC in Hong Kong will take part in the worlds toughest rowing race, the Atlantic Challenge, later in the year.

World Rugby has announced that the 2021 Women’s World Cup in New Zealand is set to be postponed until next year due to ‘the uncertain and challenging global Covid-19 landscape’.

A young Lions side showed true mettle in their 32-28 victory over the New Nation Pumas at Emirates Airline Park on a chilly Friday evening.

Coach Mziwakhe Nkosi will lead the Lions team for the preparation matches and will be assisted by Wessel Roux.

Swanepoel's inclusion at fullback, in place of the injured EW Viljoen, is one of only two changes to the side that grabbed a come-from-behind win over Tafel Lager Griquas last weekend, with his short cameo off the bench in Kimberley enough proof to Xerox Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen to hand him a first start in South Africa's oldest competition.

Swanepoel’s inclusion at fullback, in place of the injured EW Viljoen, is one of only two changes to the side that grabbed a come-from-behind win over Tafel Lager Griquas last weekend, with his short cameo off the bench in Kimberley enough proof to Xerox Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen to hand him a first start in South Africa’s oldest competition.