The President of the Golden Lions Rugby Union Kevin de Klerk on Friday issued the following statement in the wake of the SARU General Council decision to exclude the MTN Lions from the Super Rugby competition in 2013.

The statement reads:

“As stated before, the decision taken at the SARU General Council meeting yesterday to eliminate the Lions from Super Rugby in 2013 is very disappointing. Media speculation of an immediate exodus of players have created further uncertainty amongst supporters and stakeholders and Lions management therefore deem it prudent to confirm that the larger group of senior players are contracted at least until 31 October 2013. This list of senior players so contracted include, amongst others:

1 JANSE V RENSBURG, JC
2 VAN DER LINDE, CJ
3 VISAGIE, CALLIE
4 CILLIERS, PAT
5 ROODT, HENDRIK
6 VAN DER MERWE, FRANCO
7 MINNIE, DERICK
8 KRIEL, JACO
9 RHODES, MICHAEL
10 GREEFF, STEPHAN
11 STRAUSS, JOSH
12 WHITELEY, WARREN
13 BONDESIO, MICHAEL
14 CRONJE, ROSS
15 MOOLMAN, WHESTLEY
16 JANTJIES ELTON (during SupeRugby 2013, the player may elect to play at a different franchise if the Lions are not participating in SupeRugby).
17 CRONJE, GUS
18 TAUTE, JACO
19 HOLLENBACH, ALWYN
20 MAPOE, LIONEL
21 DES FOUNTAIN, DYLAN
22 MOOLMAN, BRADLEY
23 VAN RENSBURG, DEON
24 HELBERG, DEON
25 COETZEE, ANDRIES
26 KAMANA, JAMES

Management and players will meet next week to strategise and plan, but for now everyone is focused on the match against the Sharks.

We want to thank the Lions fans for all their support!”