8 October 2026
Ruan Venter believes the Lions’ success in South African derbies holds the key to another strong United Rugby Championship (URC) campaign. The physical loose forward insists that local showdowns dictate the franchise's post-season trajectory.
Ivan van Rooyen’s charges have enjoyed a perfect, unbeaten start to the season. They secured a nail-biting 27-26 victory over Leinster before overpowering the Ospreys 35-19 at Ellis Park.
“The SA derbies in the URC are the most special games; they’re the ones you want to play, and they are the most physical,” Venter said. “To play the Bulls at Loftus, you really can’t describe it; you know it’s going to be a hard, physical battle.”
The defending South African Shield champions face a brutal Jukskei derby against the Bulls in Pretoria this Saturday. The Lions will look to repeat their famous 43-33 victory at Loftus Versfeld from last term, a result that catalysed their historic playoff run.
Venter understands that consistency against local rivals is non-negotiable for playoff qualification. Survival in the local conference guarantees a strong platform for the knockouts.
“If you win your SA derbies, you are in the mix,” he said.
The Johannesburg-based team has prioritised heavy conditioning during the pre-season to brace for the brutal derby schedule. While internal standards remain exceptionally high, banking competition points remains the ultimate objective.
“We have worked really hard, and we have had a good start to the season,” he said. “Not the best performances, but as long as you’re winning, we should be good.”