Ruan Venter has recently been utilised as a lock for the Emirates Lions to address selection challenges and bolster the team’s physicality. However, Springbok veteran Willem Alberts has cautioned that a permanent move to lock could be detrimental to Venter’s “market value.”
Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen first experimented with Venter at lock in May 2025 during a United Rugby Championship (URC) clash against the Scarlets, in a bid to keep the team’s playoff hopes alive.
The emergence of young blindside flanker Batho Hlekani, who impressed during Venter’s recent four-match suspension in early 2026, has created a selection headache in the Lions’ loose trio. Shifting Venter to lock allows the coaches to keep both physical players in the starting lineup.
At just 23, Venter’s abrasive style and powerful ball-carrying are considered major assets in the second row, drawing comparisons to the traditional “enforcer” role.
Venter recently served a four-match ban for a high tackle on Sharks fullback Aphelele Fassi in January 2026. His return in February has reignited the debate over whether a permanent or semi-permanent move to lock could solve the Lions’ long-term depth issues in the tight five.
Despite the positional uncertainty, Venter remains a key part of the Lions’ future, having signed a contract extension that keeps him at Ellis Park until June 2028.
Springbok stalwart Willem Alberts, however, has urged caution.
“I think Ruan is a great player, but he is still young and needs to play anywhere he can to gain experience. To play both positions is extremely helpful in terms of gaining new skills, because if you’re just a catch, run and bulldoze player, people can make plans to stop you.
“He’s still versatile enough to play loosie and be devastating with the ball in hand. I don’t want him to move to four lock too early in his career.
“I would rather see him as a seven who can help out at lock, but in preparation to become a great four later in his career, when the pace drops but the brute force remains.”