On Tuesday the Lions announced a 35-man squad that will take part in the Lions Challenge series that kicks off against Russia this Saturday at Ellis Park.
lionsworld.co.za
15 of the players are yet to make their debut for the Lions, but there are experienced players as well like captain JC Janse van Rensburg, Derick Minnie and CJ van der Linde, while some of the players named in the squad are currently injured and will miss the first part of the Challenge, like Deon van Rensburg (out until end of February), Ruan Combrinck (out for 3 to 4 months with a shoulder injury) and Dylan des Fountain.
Some of the new players are guys that came through the ranks and still played for the Lions U/19 and U/21 teams in 2012, and hopefully they will grab this opportunity they get and make the most of it.
The full squad is:
Loosehead Prop: JC Janse van Rensburg, Jacques van Rooyen
Hooker: Martin Bezuidenhout, Robbie Coetzee, Francois du Toit
Tighthead Prop: Ruan Dreyer, CJ van der Linde, Jacques Kotze
Lock: Willie Britz, Franco Mostert, Hendrik Roodt, JJ Breet, Gavin Annandale, Hugo Kloppers
Loose Forward: Jaco Kriel, Derick Minnie, Warwick Tecklenburg, Warren Whiteley, Claude Tshibidi
Scrumhalf: Michael Bondesio, Ross Cronje
Flyhalf: Marnitz Boshoff, Guy Cronje, Lionel Cronje, Harold Vorster
Centre: Dylan des Fountain, Alwyn Hollenbach, Deon van Rensburg, Stokkies Hanekom, Jacques Nel
Wing: Ruan Combrinck, Deon Helberg, Anthony Volmink
Fullback: Andries Coetzee, Ruhan Nel
The Lions Challenge series was launched in Johannesburg last Thursday afternoon. The tournament will see the Lions take on a total of sixteen teams, including international outfits such as Russia, Samoa and Namibia, local sides the Bulls, Sharks, Cheetahs and Stormers and French teams such as Montpellier, Mont de Marsan, Grenoble and Agen, and it takes place between January and July this year.
This is to prepare the Lions for their promotion/relegation matches in July/August, to try and win back their Super Rugby participation in 2014.
GLRU President Kevin de Klerk emphasised the importance of the tournament as a motivating factor for the players, coaches and management staff following the Lions’ exclusion from Super Rugby. “Our absolute philosophy was to keep going and come together as an outfit to ensure that we as a Union – staff and players – had something to work with, and for, in place of Super Rugby,” explained De Klerk. “We are excited to see our hard work come to life when the tournament gets under way next week.”
The new jersey –
Is the new jerseys suppose to scare teams by making it look like they got massive abs
One thing is for sure, considering that Jantjies, Franco vd Merwe, Taute, Callie Visagie and Lionel Mapoe are probably going to be available for the relegation zone (if still fit), the Lions should easily demolish a very brittle Kings line up.
@ Bliksem:
yeah I should get one. Pity about the whole “Lions” thing.
🙂
Just another 2 years to go to 2015. Then the Lions can win the Currie Cup again while everyone is gone preparing for the World Cup
4 @ Bliksem:
So all of the National players were available during the duration of the 2012 Currie Cup that WP won?
Selective memory methinks!!!!!!
Hope this unit gels into a good strong unit.
4 @ Bliksem:
Lions won their currie cup fair and square. They played some outstanding rugby against my Sharks that night and deserved the win.
6 @ Lion4ever:
Your team looking fine buddy. Lions still have some fine players there. They should beat Russia on Saturday. Well have not really seen Russia play so have no idea how good they are, but Lions should still beat them.
Good luck to your Lions this year. Really looking forward to watching them play these teams, quite exciting actually as it is like a new tourney to watch.
Go Lions!
@ Puma:
Thanks Puma.
I think the Russian will be like Samoa, but with a lot less skill. They will be big, strong and physical, but I think will lack the skill levels of the likes of Samoa etc.
@ Scrumdown:
Wll I did see Fourie, Etzebeth, Peterson, Aplon and most of the Stormer youngsters play or am I mistaken? Kolisi, Burger was injured Habana went of early. Grant went back to Japan and they did not have a week to gel into a team again hence they beat the defending champions in the semi’s.
@ Lion4ever:
Nah they are mostly…. South Africans. Think most og the team will be sleeping at their parents homes like the English cricket team does normally when they are over here.
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