In an official Lions Media release, the Lions have announced that Lions Professional Rugby is now officially called the MTN Lions. This follows the recent signing of a three-year sponsorship deal by the Mobile operator.

… but that’s not all…

The Lions will have a new captain when they run on against the Reds in a Super Rugby match at Coca-Cola Park on Saturday.

Franco van der Merwe, who captained the side in the Currie Cup last year as well as in their six Super Rugby matches this season, has voluntarily quit as captain and has been replaced as captain by vice-captain Doppies la Grange. It comes after a decision in which both the management and the team had input.

Van der Merwe said on Thursday he had to pay more attention to his game. He pointed out that centre La Grange was playing well and had the following of the players.

Although the match-22 is unchanged from the side that lost 30-23 against the Bulls last year is unchanged, Coach John Mitchell has made two changes to the starting side.

Young Springbok flyhalf Elton Jantjies, who has been thrown into the deep end and mixed some good play with some ordinary patches in his six matches to date, is on the bench and former Springbok flyhalf Andre Pretorius moves up to partner Jano Vermaak at halfback.

Mitchell said that Pretorius’ selection was to give more direction to the Lions’ game.

In the pack, Joshua Strauss returns in place of Derek Minnie who is rested. He starts off the bench..

The bench remains the same except for Minnie and Jantjies’ swap with Strauss and Pretorius respectively.

Lions:

Michael Killian, Lionel Mapoe, Waylon Murray, Doppies la Grange, Deon van Rensburg, Andre Pretorius, Jano Vermaak, Warren Whiteley, Joshua Strauss, Cobus Grobbelaar Franco van der Merwe, David Bulbring, Patric Cilliers, Bandise Maku, JC Janse van Rensburg.

Replacements: Edgar Marutlulle, Jacobie Adriaanse, Michael Rhodes, Derick Minnie, Rory Kockott, Elton Jantjies, Jaco Taute.