Lions excited for tough Sharks battle

The Lions kick-off 2026 with a trip to Durban where they will meet the Hollywoodbets Sharks on Saturday for their Round 9 fixture of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship.

Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen’s men will be hoping to halt the high-flying Sharks who are enjoying a new lease on life after a change in coaching personnel. After a gutsy performance against the Stormers a fortnight ago, the Joburg franchise will take a few positives from that showing into yet another physical local derby in KZN.

Lions assistant coach Ricardo Loubscher earlier this week stressed the importance of sticking to team processes; while acknowledging the talent the Sharks possess in their senior group.

“We want everything to be process-driven,” he said. “That’s attack, defence and kicking game. If you look at the Sharks since JP (Pietersen) took over, they are a team that is on the up. We can see the improved effort, the belief and we can see it in the way they play,” said the side’s attack guru.

“We know it’s going to be a tough battle on Saturday but we are excited. If you look at the names they have and the experience in that squad, it’s exciting because there are a lot of things we’ve learned within our own team.”

A couple of forced changes to the Francke Horn-led Lions team ahead of Saturday sees locks Darrien Landsberg and Reinhard Nothnagel miss out due to shoulder and concussion setbacks respectively, as well as young prop SJ Kotze who will remain home due to injury. Eddie Davids continues to take his opportunities in the front row with RF Schoeman and Conrad van Vuuren acting as cover.

Other exciting addition to the bench are the hard-running Renzo du Plessis as well talented halfback Haasiem Pead.

The Lions currently occupy ninth spot in the current URC standings and a win against JP Pietersen’s men could see them regain the spot in the Top 8.

Hollywoodbets Sharks starting XV: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Ethan Hooker, 12 Andre Esterhuizen (capt), 11 Makazole Mapimpi; 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Grant Williams; 8 Manu Tshituka, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Siya Kolisi; 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Jason Jenkins; 3 Hanro Jacobs, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche. Replacements: 16 Eduan Swart, 17 Phatu Ganyane, 18 Mawande Mdanda, 19 Corne Rahl, 20 Phepsi Buthelezi, 21 Nick Hatton, 22 Jaden Hendrikse, 23 Siya Masuku.

Lions starting XV: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Kelly Mpeku, 13 Erich Cronje, 12 Bronson Mills, 11 Angelo Davids; 10 Chris Smith, 9 Morne van den Berg; 8 Francke Horn (capt), 7 Ruan Venter, 6 Jarod Cairns; 5 Ruben Schoeman, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen; 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 PJ Botha, 1 Eddie Davids. Replacements: 16 Morne Brandon, 17 RF Schoeman, 18 Conrad van Vuuren, 19 Ruan Delport, 20 Renzo du Plessis, 21 Siba Qoma, 22 Hassiem Pead, 23 Richard Kriel.

SATURDAY

Hollywoodbets Sharks v Lions

Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban – KO 1.30pm IRE & UK/2.30pm ITA/3.30pm SA

Referee: Chris Allison (SARU, 6th league game)

AR 1: Aimee Barrett-Theron (SARU) AR 2: Hanru van Rooyen (SARU)

TMO: Egon Seconds (SARU)

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