{"1070":{"title":"Rugby World Cup","uri":"rugby-world-cup","id":"111","oid":"210","ovid":"1070","order":0,"hasData":1},"1491":{"title":"Rugby's Greatest Rivalry","uri":"rugbys-greatest-rivalry","id":"1491","oid":"1491","ovid":"1491","order":1,"hasData":1},"0":{"title":"Autumn Nations Series","uri":"autumn-nations-series","id":"124","oid":"365","ovid":"0","order":31,"hasData":1},"2146":{"title":"Nations Championship","uri":"nations-championship","id":"114","oid":"114","ovid":"2146","order":3,"hasData":1},"1034":{"title":"World Rugby Junior World Championship","uri":"world-rugby-u20-championship","id":"216","oid":"216","ovid":"1034","order":5,"hasData":1},"1008":{"title":"Investec Champions Cup","uri":"european-champions-cup","id":"110","oid":"242","ovid":"1008","order":6,"hasData":1},"1026":{"title":"Challenge Cup","uri":"challenge-cup","id":"118","oid":"243","ovid":"1026","order":7,"hasData":1},"1020":{"title":"Super Rugby Pacific","uri":"super-rugby","id":"104","oid":"205","ovid":"1020","order":8,"hasData":1},"1011":{"title":"PREM Rugby","uri":"premiership","id":"101","oid":"201","ovid":"1011","order":9,"hasData":1},"1068":{"title":"United Rugby Championship","uri":"united-rugby-championship","id":"138","oid":"204","ovid":"1068","order":10,"hasData":1},"1002":{"title":"TOP 14","uri":"top-14","id":"102","oid":"203","ovid":"1002","order":11,"hasData":1},"1013":{"title":"Pro D2","uri":"pro-d2","id":"211","oid":"211","ovid":"1013","order":12,"hasData":1},"2062":{"title":"International","uri":"internationals","id":"107","oid":"3","ovid":"2062","order":13,"hasData":1},"2066":{"title":"Women's Internationals","uri":"womens-internationals","id":"274","oid":"274","ovid":"2066","order":14,"hasData":1},"1095":{"title":"PWR","uri":"premiership-womens-rugby","id":"127","oid":"340","ovid":"1095","order":17,"hasData":1},"1174":{"title":"Major League Rugby","uri":"major-league-rugby","id":"131","oid":"151","ovid":"1174","order":18,"hasData":1},"1106":{"title":"Women's Six Nations","uri":"womens-six-nations","id":"125","oid":"248","ovid":"1106","order":19,"hasData":1},"1055":{"title":"Six Nations","uri":"six-nations","id":"108","oid":"209","ovid":"1055","order":20,"hasData":1},"1062":{"title":"U20 Six Nations","uri":"u20-six-nations","id":"217","oid":"217","ovid":"1062","order":21,"hasData":1},"2070":{"title":"Pacific Four Series","uri":"pacific-four-series","id":"120","oid":"120","ovid":"2070","order":22,"hasData":1},"1001":{"title":"Hilux NPC","uri":"bunnings-npc","id":"105","oid":"208","ovid":"1001","order":23,"hasData":1},"1039":{"title":"Currie Cup","uri":"currie-cup","id":"106","oid":"207","ovid":"1039","order":24,"hasData":1},"1171":{"title":"Women's Rugby World Cup","uri":"womens-rugby-world-cup","id":"126","oid":"249","ovid":"1171","order":25,"hasData":1},"1119":{"title":"Rugby Europe Championship","uri":"rugby-europe-championship","id":"269","oid":"269","ovid":"1119","order":27,"hasData":1},"1535":{"title":"British & Irish Lions 2025","uri":"british-irish-lions","id":"113","oid":"221","ovid":"1535","order":28,"hasData":1},"1053":{"title":"The Rugby Championship","uri":"the-rugby-championship","id":"109","oid":"214","ovid":"1053","order":29,"hasData":1},"1260":{"title":"Pacific Nations Cup","uri":"pacific-nations-cup","id":"219","oid":"219","ovid":"1260","order":30,"hasData":1},"2151":{"title":"WXV Global Series","uri":"wxv","id":"144","oid":"144","ovid":"2151","order":33,"hasData":1},"2096":{"title":"WXV 2","uri":"wxv-2","id":"863","oid":"863","ovid":"2096","order":36,"hasData":1},"2097":{"title":"WXV 3","uri":"wxv-3","id":"864","oid":"864","ovid":"2097","order":37,"hasData":1},"1297":{"title":"Premiership Cup","uri":"premiership-cup","id":"116","oid":"116","ovid":"1297","order":39,"hasData":1}}

Lions bolster front row stock, but no Odendaal

TRANSFER NEWS: The Lions have boosted their front row stock with the signing of hooker Michael van Vuuren.

ADVERTISEMENT

The 31-year-old Van Vuuren will join the Lions from the Premiership club Wasps.

Born in East London, Van Vuuren started his career at the Cheetahs before moving to Stade Francais in 2012.

He returns to South Africa in 2014 and played for the Southern Kings.

Following his time with the Eastern Province side, he then headed to England where he enjoyed a seven-year-long career.

In England, the hooker played for Leicester Tigers, Bath, and Northampton Saints before settling at Wasps.

Van Vuuren will now return to South Africa after becoming available when Wasps went into administration, the second Premiership club to be suspended from England’s top domestic competition.

ADVERTISEMENT

Worcester Warriors is the other.

Lions bolster front row stock, but no Odendaal

Thus far, many players have found new clubs to restart their rugby careers.

Nizaam Carr joined the Bulls for the third time, while fellow Springbok Vincent Koch headed to Stade Francais.

ADVERTISEMENT

There has also been speculation that Burger Odendaal could make a return to Ellis Park.

However, the Lions deny the link and it seems that the former Lions captain is likely to join Japan side Toyota Verblitz.

Northampton Saints is another option ahead of the 2023/24 Premiership season for Odendaal.

Source: Coventrytelegraph

Join free

New Zealand v France | WXV Global Series 2026 | Match Highlights

Japan v Wales | WXV Global Series 2026 | Match Highlights

South Africa v Ireland | WXV Global Series 2026 | Match Highlights

USA v Italy | WXV Global Series 2026 | Match Highlights

The Koko Show | 20th October 2026 | BLEDISLOE BLUES & ONE INCREDIBLE BLOKE! NATHAN “CHEESE” CHARLES JOINS KOKO

Which Big Names Will Miss the All Blacks Squad? | Aotearoa Rugby Pod | Episode 37

What Rugby Fans Don't See: Ben O'Keeffe on Life Under Pressure | ARP Extra

MLR Weekly: New England Owner Errik Anderson re expansion/future, MLR News, College Rugby Corner

Write A Comment