Lions to go on tour without star flank

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: The Lions picked a strong touring squad for their United Rugby Championship fixture with Munster on Saturday but they are still without the services of one of their star young Springboks.

Loose forward Ruan Venter underwent a shoulder operation in early October and missed out on the Springboks’ end-of-year tour.

He is still in the rehabilitation phase of his recovery and is only expected to be back on the playing field sometime in early 2025.

Venter picked up the injury in the defeat of Ulster in September, but this has been countered by the return from injury of lively flank JC Pretorius.

The powerful ball-carrying Venter made his Springbok debut against Portugal in Bloemfontein in July.

The fourth-ranked Lions have included their regular stalwarts in the touring squad to face Munster (12th).

The Irish giants have lost a lot of their bite and had a poor start to the season, losing to Zebre in a shock loss and then both games in South Africa.

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The departure of their head coach Graham Rowntree will also have a profound impact on the team as they regather for the remainder of the URC season.

Lions touring squad:
Forwards: PJ Botha, Jarod Cairns, Ruan Delport, Francke Horn, Franco Marais, Morgan Naude, Reinhard Nothnagel, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, JC Pretorius, Sibabalo Qoma, Ruben Schoeman, RF Schoeman, WJ Steenkamp, Conraad van Vuuren

Backs: Erich Cronje, Quan Horn, Richard Kriel, Marius Louw, Tapiwa Mafura, Sanele Nohamba, Nico Steyn, Morne van den Berg, Edwill van der Merwe, Henco van Wyk, Kade Wolhuter