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Lions include Junior Bok star in matchday squad for Sharks clash

By @rugby365com
Friday 2 Jan 2026

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen has tweaked his matchday squad for Saturday’s United Rugby Championship Round Nine derby against the Sharks in Durban.

A couple of forced changes to the Francke Horn-led Lions team see locks Darrien Landsberg and Reinhard Nothnagel miss out due to shoulder and concussion setbacks, respectively.

Ruben Schoeman will partner with Etienne Oosthuizen in the second row this week.

Young prop SJ Kotze will also 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.

Meanwhile, exciting Junior Springbok scrumhalf Haashim Pead has been included on the bench along with hard-running loose forward Renzo du Plessis

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 Eight.

Lions: 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 (captain), 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 Haashim Pead, 23 Richard Kriel.

Date: Saturday, January 3
Venue: Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban
Kick-off: 15.30 (13.30 GMT)
Referee: Chris Allison (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa), Hanru van Rooyen (South Africa)
TMO: Egon Seconds (South Africa)

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