Lions to 'retrench' players

NEWS: The ever-worsening financial situation in South African rugby has forced the Lions to start retrenching players.

Despite being the country’s most successful Super Rugby franchise in recent years and being rated as financially the most stable, the Lions Rugby Company revealed that it will offer “severance packages” to contracted players.

The Lions did not reveal how many players will be affected, but said they will be engaging with players.

The cash crunch has forced the South African Union to cut their grants to all the unions, with the smaller union, in particular, feeling the pinch.

Western Province recently put 60 players on the market, while the Blue Bulls have also gone on a retrenchment drive.