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The 'ambitious' pride is growing in the Den

By Jan de Koning
Thursday 27 Jul 2023

TEAM NEWS: The Lions Rugby Company appears to have put the unsettling and dire 2022-23 season behind them.

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Confirmation of the departure of players like Sithembiso Sithole, Andre Warner, Tiaan Swanepoel, Peter-John Steenkamp and Cal Smid caused disquiet about the management of the Ellis Park-based franchise.

However, management has been active in the transfer market and apart from a handful of confirmed signings, the transfer grapevine is rife with reports of more new arrivals.

The Lions announced last month that Richard Kriel, Erich Cronje (both from Zebre), Conraad van Vuuren (Cheetahs) and Zander du Plessis (Griquas) will call the Den home next season.

However, the names of injured Stormers flyhalf Kade Wolhuter, Pumas fullback Devon Williams, Cheetahs utility forward Jean Droste, journeyman utility forward Etienne Oosthuizen (currently with Lyon), Griquas loose forward Hanru Sirgel (on loan) and Griquas scrumhalf Johan Mulder (also on loan) have all recently been linked to the Lions.

It will come as good news for the concerned and passionate Lions supporters of a team that also lost the services of retired Springbok Jaco Kriel.

* (Continue below …)

It has been a troublesome season that was littered with infighting – including a potential coaching mutiny and much player unhappiness.

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However, the real loss has been IP departed from the coaching ranks – Albert van den Berg (this past season), to go along with Johann Ackermann, Swys de Bruin, JP Ferreira, Warren Whitely, Russell Winter, Bafana Nhleko, Joey Mongalo, Philip Lemmer, Neil de Bruin and Sean Erasmus.

It will be interesting to see if they will improve on their 2022-23 performances – when they failed to reach the play-offs of the Currie Cup and URC, while being knocked out in the quarterfinals of the Challenge Cup in Europe.

@king365ed
@rugby365com

Related

The real cost of the IP that departed the Den
‘Why I am really leaving the Lions’
The dwindling numbers of Lions in Bok colours
Matfield’s brutal assessment of Lions’ decline
Mutiny in the Den?
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Why Lions are staying at Ellis Park

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