Lions coach Ivan van Zyl has released his matchday squad to kick off their 2026/26 United Rugby Championship campaign against Cardiff in Wales on Saturday.
The Johannesburg franchise has been depleted by a plethora of injuries, with star flyhalf Chris Smithm PJ Botha, Jaco Visagie, Juan Schoeman, JC Pretorius, Francke Horn, Morgan Naude, Siba Qoma, Eduan Keyter, and Rabz Maxwane all unavailable for selection.
Springbok Horn leads the Lions charge from fullback, while fellow Bok Asenathi Ntlabakanye props up the scrum with hooker Franco Marais and loosehead SJ Kotze. Dylan Sjoblom and Ruan Delport make up the second row and Ruan Venter, Jarod Cairns and WJ Steenkamp combine in the loose.
In the backline, scrumhalf Nico Steyn will be feeding flyhalf Lubabalo Dobela, who has Smith’s big shoes to fill. Springbok prospect Henco van Wyk patrolls the midfield with Richard Kriel, with flyers Angelo Davids and Tapiwa Mafura on the wings.
South Africa U20 superstar scrumhalf Hashim Pead is set to provide pace from the bench.
Lions – 15 Quan Horn (c), 14 Tapiwa Mafura, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Richard Kriel, 11 Angelo Davids, 10 Lubabalo Dobela, 9 Nico Steyn, 8 WJ Steenkamp, 7 Ruan Venter, 6 Jarod Cairns, 5 Ruan Delport, 4 Dylan Sjoblom, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 Franco Marais, 1 SJ Kotze.
Replacements: 16 Morne Brandon, 17 Heiko Pohlmann, 18 RF Schoeman, 19 Darrien Landsberg, 20 Renzo du Plessis, 21 Haashim Pead, 22 Sam Francis, 23 Rynhardt Jonker.
