21 October 2026
The 10bet Lions are pivoting their focus back to the United Rugby Championship (URC) ahead of their upcoming clashes against Edinburgh and Glasgow Warriors. However, following an emotionally charged period that included their historic Champions Cup debut, the Johannesburg-based franchise is prioritising squad mental well-being and daily player management above all else.
Scrum coach Julian Redelinghuys admitted that while the coaching staff would normally set a strict point-tally goal for a tour, the immense emotional toll of recent tragic events means they are taking this trip day by day. Instead of hunting for specific bonus-point hauls under these unprecedented circumstances, the squad is focusing entirely on navigating two of the competition's toughest fixtures by taking things as they come.
“We want to win or target games or any of those. We know we need to get points on tour,” Redelinghuys said. “We're not going to say we're going to aim for five points this weekend and five points next weekend. We want to get as many points as we can get out of these two games.”
Rectifying their historical travel record remains a long-term priority for the coaching staff after mixed results in previous cross-border campaigns. The team understands that away victories are the ultimate ingredient needed to cement themselves as genuine playoff contenders this season.
“The last two seasons, we've had a couple of draws, but we haven't had victories as much as we wanted to,” Redelinghuys explained. “So we know there is a focus on us to travel well this year if we want to give ourselves a good chance.”
The upcoming fixtures present a massive physical test against formidable opposition on artificial pitches. Despite navigating challenging off-field circumstances, the players have been praised for their clinical professionalism and mental sharpness during preparation.
“When it's boots on, it's switch on,” Redelinghuys added. “When it's walk-through time or meeting time, it's then to switch on, be really present, be really connected and do the job at hand while still being really respectful to the circumstances.”