Three Springboks have been named in the Lions squad, with another on standby, for a demanding three-match Vodacom URC tour of Europe.
Three Springboks have been named in the Lions squad, with another on standby, for a demanding three-match Vodacom URC tour of Europe.
The Lions kick off their 2025-26 campaign in Cardiff on Saturday before travelling to Italy to take on Zebre Parma and Benetton.
Coach Cash van Rooyen has named a squad blending Springbok experience with young talent.
Tighthead prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye, flanker Ruan Venter and last season’s captain Francke Horn anchor the forwards, while fullback Quan Horn joins Angelo Davids, Henco van Wyk, Richard Kriel and Junior Boks star Haashim Pead in a strong backline.
Former Bulls flyhalf Chris Smith, who suffered a concussion in the recent Currie Cup final defeat, has been placed on standby along with Springbok scrumhalf Morne van den Berg and loose forwards Siba Qoma and JC Pretorius.
Veteran hooker PJ Botha is among those missing out through injury.
The Lions are set to depart for Cardiff on Tuesday.
Lions squad:
Forwards – Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Darrien Landsberg, Dylan Sjoblom, Etienne Oosthuizen, Franco Marais, Francke Horn, Jarod Cairns, Juan Schoeman, Morne Brandon, Ruan Delport, Renzo du Plessis, RF Schoeman, Ruan Venter, Sebastian Lombard, SJ Kotze, WJ Steenkamp.
Backs – Angelo Davids, Eduan Keyter, Haashim Pead, Henco van Wyk, Lubabalo Dobela, Manuel Rass, Nico Steyn, Quan Horn, Richard Kriel, Rynhardt Jonker, Sam Francis, Tapiwa Mafura.
On standby – Siba Qoma, JC Pretorius, Chris Smith, Morne van den Berg.
Still, there is excitement about the squad’s youthful talent. The arrival of Junior Springbok loose forward Batho Hlekani at the end of the year will add X factor to a group already reliant on the dynamism of centre Henco van Wyk and the counter-attacking threat of fullback Quan Horn.
KEY PLAYER
Quan Horn continues his steady rise, having cracked the initial Springbok squad earlier this year. Though the fullback was released before the Barbarians clash in Cape Town, that experience will fuel his drive in the URC. Horn’s pace, strength and ability to launch counter-attacks from deep make him central to the Lions’ ambitions.
