The Lions kick off 2026 with a trip to Durban, where they will meet the Hollywoodbets Sharks on Saturday at 5:30 (SA Time) 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 week stressed the importance of sticking to team processes, while acknowledging the talent the Sharks possess in their senior group.
“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.”
A couple of forced changes to the Francke Horn-led Lions team ahead of Saturday see 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 due to injury. Eddie Davids continues to take his opportunities in the front row, with RF Schoeman and Conrad van Vuuren acting as cover.
Other exciting additions to the bench are the hard-running Renzo du Plessis as well as 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.
Lions 23
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