VIDEO: Golden Lions Women creating their own identity in Alberton
EXCLUSIVE: After a slow start to their campaign, Golden Lions Women have surged into fifth place in the Women’s Super League, building momentum with a string of impressive results.
Following early defeats to EP Queens and Western Province, the Lions broke their duck with a 48-32 victory over the Cheetahs Queens in Round Three – a result that sparked a turnaround in their season.
They followed it up with wins over Border (32-17) and the Sharks (19-18), marking the first time they have beaten both sides in the competition.
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“It’s been quite a rollercoaster,” Lions scrumhalf Rumandi Potgieter told Rugby365.
“We as a team started off very slowly against EP Queens, taking a loss there and then going up against Western Province for that first away game. It was quite a shock to the system, I’d say.
“It was kind of like we woke up and were like, ‘Oh, the league has started.’
“It was very good to see that we were able to pull ourselves back and get back on track. And I’m just sad that it happened a bit late.”
With only the top two sides progressing to the Final, the Lions are out of title contention. However, they have emerged as one of the most improved teams in the competition.
“We had quite a tough pre-season. It was short, but we really went full out fitness-wise,” Potgieter said.
“On Saturdays, we had long training sessions together. And the core group kind of stayed the same, which really helps a lot.”
She added: “Last year we recorded a bunch of close losses – either by a few points or in the last few minutes, the other team actually took the win away from us.
“And I think as bad as it was and as tough as it was, this year we really made a point that we don’t want to sit there again after this season and say, ‘We should have won this team, we should have won this match, we could have beaten this team by way more,’ or leave it up to chance.
“So, I think we really took a lot of hurt and pain from last season and turned it into something good. Instead of lying down after a bad season last year, we said, ‘Okay, listen, this is what we’ve learned from last season. We don’t want to sit there again. We don’t want to feel those feelings again.’”
The team has played its home matches at Alberton Rugby Club rather than Ellis Park.
It is not uncommon for women’s teams to play at alternative venues. The Cheetahs Women, WP Women, and Sharks have all used alternative venues for their home matches.
There might be a negative connotation with not playing at the main field, but the Lions have found positives in the change.
According to Potgieter, it has allowed the women’s team to create an identity separate from the men, tapping into a new fan base.
“I was disappointed at first because Ellis Park has so much history,” Potgieter admitted.
“And then, after our first game, I remember having a smile on my face just because of the crowd we had at Alberton and the interaction we were able to have after the game with some of the young girls waiting for us. Even though we lost, all of them were so happy to see us, talk to us, and take photos.
“Maybe we can do something special with where we’ve been placed.
“I finally realised what they mean when they say ‘home ground advantage,’ because the people backed the stands and they were so loud. Every time there’s a big hit, you can hear it on the field.
“Every time something happens, it feels like they are on the field with you. And they were never nasty to the other team. Even the other team said the crowd was really involved.
“That is the best feeling I’ve felt in a long time in rugby – having that support, having that extra teammate almost, if I can put it like that.”
Although not part of the 2025 Springbok Women’s World Cup squad, Potgieter admitted that the team’s performance has played a major part in growing interest in the game.
“Everywhere I go, people ask about that performance, about the Springbok Women.
“They ask about the future of women’s rugby in South Africa. People are interested.
“People now know there’s women’s rugby in our country, which is exactly where we want to be.
“And it can only go upwards from here.”
The Lions face a stern test this weekend when they travel to Loftus Versfeld to take on the Bulls Daisies.
