Blockbuster URC opener expected as Lions welcome Leinster

The 10bet Lions take on Irish giants Leinster in Round 1 of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship at 10bet Ellis Park this weekend in what will be a repeat of their quarter-final meeting back in May in Dublin. The SA Shield holders have, in the off season bolstered their stocks with the likes of Springbok Boan Venter, Boeta Chamberlain and Hyron Adams- all featuring in Ivan van Rooyen’s match 23 for Saturday.

Van Rooyen has also included young scrumhalf Zian Cilliers on the bench as well as schoolboy talent Ethan Adams - both in line of earning their senior international debuts come Saturday.

Looking ahead to Leinster, Ivan ‘Cash’ van Rooyen complimented the opposition’s ability to unsettle teams to suite their style of play.

“Leinster are quite good at getting the opposition to play out of their system- their superpower is to get you out of your structure, so it will be important for us to get back into momentum and re-apply the pressure.

“Their defensive system is really good so if you are 50/50 on attack they get the upper hand so there’s a big challenge for us ahead,” he cautioned.

The Lions boss welcomed the fact of playing Leo Cullen’s first up saying they would have played them somewhere in the competition regardless.

“Well, you would have had to play them somewhere,” he quipped.

“Game one at home will be a challenge for us. I don’t think it’s too soon; obviously, there’s still a bit of scar tissue from the quarter-final but the best way to get back onto the horse is to jump back onto it. It’s going to be a tremendous challenge for us but one we are looking forward to it,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, Lions Rugby is proud to announce Renault South Africa, represented by Motus Vehicles Distributor (Pty) Ltd, as the official vehicle partner to the 10bet Lions in a new three-year agreement.

The partnership gives Renault exclusivity in the official vehicle partner category and will see the Renault logo feature on the back right side of the Lions playing shorts. The deal also sees Renault providing the franchise with a range vehicles to effectively meet the organisation’s transport needs.

Pieter Burger, Managing Director of 10bet Ellis Park, welcomed the partnership as an important commercial uplift for the franchise and a major confidence booster ahead of the 2026/27 international club season.

“Renault is a strong addition to the Lions Rugby family and this strategic partnership speaks to the momentum we are building around the 10bet Lions brand. Beyond the visibility on our playing kit, the vehicle support will make a meaningful contribution to the way our franchise operates. We are excited to welcome Renault on board for the next three years.”

Lee-Anne Stanton, General Manager of Advertising and Communications at Renault, said the collaboration presents an exciting opportunity to engage with one of South Africa's most passionate sporting communities.

"The 10bet Lions' commitment to passion, pride and excellence strongly reflects Renault's own values. This partnership not only strengthens our presence within South African rugby but also allows us to build meaningful connections with a diverse and engaged fan base. Through this collaboration, we have the opportunity to showcase Renault's versatile range of mobility solutions, designed to meet the evolving needs and lifestyles of South Africans, while providing the team with reliable transport that supports their day-to-day operations."

10bet Lions starting XV: 15 Boeta Chamberlain, 14 Kelly Mpeku, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Richard Kriel, 11 Erich Cronje; 10 Chris Smith, 9 Nico Steyn; 8 Francke Horn (capt), 7 Batho Hlekani, 6 Siba Mahashe; 5 Ruan Delport, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen; 3 Sebastian de Klerk, 2 PJ Botha, 1 Boan Venter. Replacements: 16 Morne Brandon, 17 SJ Kotze, 18 RF Schoeman, 19 Hyron Andrews, 20 Siba Qoma, 21 JC Pretorius, 22 Zian Cilliers, 23 Ethan Adams.

SATURDAY

10bet Lions v Leinster Rugby @ 10bet Ellis Park, Johannesburg – KO 12.30pm IRE & UK/1.30pm ITA & SA

Referee: Ben Breakspear (WRU, 21st league game)

AR 1: Hanru van Rooyen (SARU) AR 2: Jonathan Lottering (SARU)

TMO: Craig Evans (WRU)

Live on: SuperSport, TG4, Premier Sports, Flo Rugby & URC.tv