The Lions kick-off 2026 with a trip to Durban where they will meet the Hollywoodbets Sharks on Saturday for their Round 9 fixture of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship.

Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen’s men will be hoping to halt the high-flying Sharks who are enjoying a new lease on life after a change in coaching personnel. After a gutsy performance against the Stormers a fortnight ago, the Joburg franchise will take a few positives from that showing into yet another physical local derby in KZN.

Lions assistant coach Ricardo Loubscher earlier this stressed the importance of sticking to team processes, while acknowledging the talent the Sharks possess in their cage.

“We want everything to be process-driven,” he said. “That’s attack, defence and kicking game. If you look at the Sharks since JP took over, they are a team that is on the up. We can see the improved effort, the belief and we can see it in the way they play, said the side’s attack guru.

“We know it’s going to be a tough battle on Saturday, but we are excited. If you look at the names they have and the experience in that squad, it’s exciting because there are a lot of things we’ve learned within our own team,” he concluded.

A couple of forced changes to the Francke Horn-led Lions team ahead of Saturday which sees locks Darrien Landsberg and Reinhard Nothnagel miss out due to shoulder and concussion setbacks respectively, as well as young prop SJ Kotze who will remain home. Eddie Davids continues to take his opportunities in the front row with RF Schoeman and Conrad van Vuuren acting as cover.

Other exciting addition to the bench are the hard-running Renzo du Plessis as well talented halfback Haasiem Pead.

The Lions currently occupy ninth spot in the current URC standings and a win against JP Pietersen’s men could see them regain the spot in the Top 8.

Kick off at Hollywoodbets Kings Park is at 15:30

Lions 23 vs Hollywoodbets Sharks

1.           Eddie Davids

2.           PJ Botha

3.           Asenathi Ntlabakanye

4.           Etienne Oosthuizen

5.           Ruben Schoeman

6.           Jarod Cairns

7.           Ruan Venter

8.           Francke Horn (c)

9.           Morne van den Berg

10.         Chris Smith

11.         Angelo Davids

12.         Bronson Mills

13.         Erich Cronje

14.         Kelly Mpeku

15.         Quan Horn

Replacements

16.         Morne Brandon

17.         RF Schoeman

18.         Conrad van Vuuren

19.         Ruan Delport

20.         Renzo du Plessis

21.         Siba Qoma

22.         Hassiem Pead

23.         Richard Kriel