The Cup of Champions has partnered with South Africa’s champion beer in a bold, new agreement that will see the world’s oldest provincial rugby competition officially become the Carling Currie Cup for the next three seasons.

Nine tries on the trot by a spirited Emirates Lions, three of which by Courtnall Skosan, tells the tale of their road back which started at Emirates Airline Park on Friday night with a sterling win against the Tafel Lager Griquas by 61-31.

It was a heartbreaking end to their SA Rugby Under 21 Championship for the Xerox Lions Under 21’s as they were downed 48-33 by the Vodacom Blue Bulls in the final at Emirates Airline Park on Friday afternoon.

Francke Horn will captain the Xerox Lions Under 21 side for the final of the SA Rugby Under 21 Championship at Emirates Airline Park on Friday, 30 October at 14:00.

We are pleased to announce that the NICD has cleared the Super Rugby Unlocked match between the Emirates Lions and the Tafel Lager Griquas for Friday 30 October at 19:00.

The Xerox Lions Under 21 side was in devastating form as they swept aside the WP Under 21’s by 54-19 at Emirates Airline Park on Sunday to secure a place in the final against the Vodacom Blue Bulls on Friday.

Dameon Venter has been included in the Xerox Lions Under 21 starting line-up for the clash with the WP Under 21’s at Emirates Airline Park on Sunday afternoon (13:45).

The Vodacom Super Rugby Unlocked match between Emirates Lions and Toyota Cheetahs scheduled for Emirates Airlines Park this afternoon has been called off in line with COVID-19 protocols.

The Emirates Lions are still seeking that elusive win in this years’ Vodacom Super Rugby Unlocked as they bow out  3-17 to the DHL Stormers at Newlands on Saturday evening.

Xerox Lions Under 21 prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye scored a brace of tries in his side’s 26-17 win over defending champions the Vodacom Blue Bulls at the SA Under 21 Championship at Emirates Airline Park on Monday.

Xerox Lions Under 21 coaches Mziwake Nkosi and Wessel Roux made only one change to the starting XV for their encounter with the Vodacom Blue Bulls Under 21 with loosehead prop Nkosi Masuku returning to the fray.

The Toyota Cheetahs secured a last grasp win in 85th minute of the game to edge out the Xerox Lions U21 by 31-30 at the SA Under 21 Championship at Emirates Airline on Sunday.

Xerox Lions Under coach Mziwakhe Nkosi and captain Travis Gordon is a dynamic duo whose paths have always crossed – the one as one of the top juniors in the province and the other as one of the leading coaches of junior rugby in South Africa.

The Emirates Lions got one over the Phakisa Pumas in a friendly match at Emirates Airline Park on Friday afternoon in rainy and windy conditions.

In another opportunity to impress the coaches the Emirates Lions will face the Phakisa Pumas in a friendly match at Emirates Airline Park on Friday afternoon at 14:00.

Former SA Schools coach Mziwakhe Nkosi will take charge of the Xerox Lions Under 21 side when Emirates Airline Park host the SA Under 21 competition from Sunday 4 October. He will be assisted by Wessel Roux and Wynand Ellis.

Newly appointed Xerox Lions Under 21 captain Travis Gordon has been there and done that. You may well ask how as he is still only 21 years of age. But this young inspirational number eight started captaining Lions provincial teams from under 16 age group when he lead the Grant Khomo side in 2015.

A Special General Meeting of the South African Rugby Union (SARU) voted on Tuesday to explore entering four teams into an expanded PRO Rugby competition as well as retaining a place in a revised SANZAAR competition.

Vodacom Super Rugby Unlocked is here and the fixtures are out!

The Emirates Lions will host the Toyota Cheetahs at Emirates Airline Park on Saturday 24 October for their first home game of the new Super Rugby Unlocked season.

The Emirates Lions have showcased the depth of the union with some great talent on display with the final score going the way of the DHL Stormers by 34-21 to end off Super Fan Saturday at Loftus.

It has been announced that domestic rugby will commence on 26 September at Loftus Versfeld when the four Vodacom Super Rugby franchises face each other in a double-header which will see the Emirates Lions take on the DHL Stormers and the Vodacom Bulls face the Cell C Sharks.

“What do you say to a matric pupil who played rugby his entire life and who just wants to be in the school’s first team? There is so much satisfaction that playing for the first team provides. A lot of emotion goes into it. Now there is a big void in that player’s life.”

Manuel Johern Rass, affectionately called Mannie, has been quietly plying his trade at centre at the Emirates Lions and while he had a few starting berths in Vodacom Super Rugby this year, he is still waiting for that big break.

Johannesburg, South Africa, 31 August 2020 – Mastercard today announced its sponsorship of the Golden Lions Rugby Union (GLRU) amateur women’s club league and senior women’s team – a step in  line with its continuous commitment to champion and develop women’s rugby in South Africa. This support sends a powerful message for gender equality in sports and demonstrates a continued focus on gender balanced marketing.

Jaco Kriel hasn’t tasted any rugby action at all since returning to South Africa in the middle of last year after having undergone a foot operation. He was working extremely hard to get back to full fitness while missing out on the first few Vodacom Super Rugby games. And then lockdown happened. He admits that it has been hard. “I missed the group environment, the banter between the boys, the good laughs and the hard work alongside each other the most,” he says.

The former Transvaal scrumhalf Hamer Engelbrecht is hospitalized and kept under strict sedation with n heart and lung condition. 

Hacjivah Dayimani is just one of a host of loose forwards who are all currently vying to catch the coaches’ eye as the Emirates Lions prepare to get back into action once SA Rugby receives the green light.

Emirates Lions defence coach Sean Erasmus was asked to reflect on the past two weeks of training with specific focus on his field of expertise. He conceded that it was challenging to do the necessary preparation to get everyone ready for when rugby will start but he was positive about the systems that are in place bearing in mind the team is still busy with non-contact training.

A big friend of the Lions rugby family and a Lion by heart, Blackie Swart, passed away on Saturday afternoon.

Wiehahn Herbst has been with the Emirates Lions for three weeks now and has settled in nicely in his new home while embracing the red and white. We caught up with this bulky powerhouse of a prop to find out a bit more about the family man and his likes and dislikes.

Masked rugby players, hand-sanitizer, ball cleaning, and lots of running and skills work greeted all players as they returned to the training field last week for non-contact training.

Sy ma-hulle het na drie seuns vir ‘n dogtertjie gehoop toe Cornelius Claassen Dannhauzer gebore is – ‘n bul-baba van bykans 13 pond. 

Sy ma was seer van die groot baba se geboorte toe sy ouma hulle probeer opbeur en daarop wys dat die mooi baba soos ‘n speeldingetjie lyk. 

Dis hoe die bynaam Toy (Dannhauser) gebore is.

Emirates Lions loosehead prop Sithembiso ‘Sti’ Sithole always used to live at the coast and found Johannesburg fast-paced and busy. But he has settled in nicely together with fiancé Brielle, whom he met while studying at the University of Cape Town, and his two dogs Butch and Rocky.

The Lions Rugby Company is very sad to learn of the tragic passing of former player and commentator Kaunda Ntunja.

Wilhelm van der Sluys and Tiaan Swanepoel have both extended their contracts with the Lions and will remain in Johannesburg for the next year.

Wiehann Herbst has been described as a powerhouse of a prop who goes about his business. The Lions are proud to announce that Herbst decided to move that business over to Johannesburg.

Talented lock Lunga Ncube has committed to the Lions in a major boost to the Johannesburg based sides’ youth stocks.

Prolific hooker Jaco Visagie has traded Pretoria for Johannesburg and will hopefully not have to wait too long to put the Emirates Lions number 2 jersey on his back.

SA Rugby and the British & Irish Lions confirmed on Wednesday the 2021 tour to South Africa will go ahead as scheduled.

It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing Tony de Munnik, a former vice-president of the GLRU and chairperson of the Ellis Park Development Company.

It was confirmed earlier today that Burger Odendaal has joined the pride. In a homecoming of sorts Odendaal is back home where he started his rugby career at Monument High School.

Dr Theunie Lategan, passed away at the age of 62 due to a heart attack.

It is confirmed that prop Ruan Dreyer is heading home to the Lions after a stint at Gloucester. The 29-year-old tighthead started four Tests for the Springboks under Allister Coetzee in 2017 after a fine Vodacom Super Rugby campaign.

Two stalwarts have recommitted to the Lions when Sti Sithole and Jan-Henning Campher extended their contract.

The second part of Prof Pieter Krugers’ articles for Men’s Mental Health Week tackles COVID-19 and the effect it has had on elite sports people. Prof Kruger is the Director: Centre for Health & Human Performance at NWU and a Consultant Clinical Psychologist

During Men’s Mental Health Week we asked Prof. Pieter Kruger, Director for the Centre for Health & Human Performance (CHHP) at the North West University, to write an article on mental health in elite rugby.

Ellis Park Stadium (Pty) Ltd. is pleased to announce the appointment of Pieter Burger who will assume the position of Managing Director effective from 1 August 2020. Burger, currently the CEO of Mpumalanga Rugby Union, is an experienced rugby administrator and strong business development professional. 

We cornered the new Managing Director for EPS (Pty) Ltd and posed some tough questions to him. We feel he came through with flying (red) colours.

Emirates Lions team manager Mustapha Boomgaard is one of Vodacom Super Rugby’s longest-serving management members. He has overseen over 340 Currie Cup and Super Rugby games since becoming Lions team manager in 2008. Recently he spent nearly an hour chatting to Independent Media rugby writer Jacques van der Westhuyzen about some of his experiences of the last 12 years and also revealed some “secrets” in a 20-question Q and A about the men who’ve donned the famous red and white jersey.

Kevin de Klerk, former president of the Golden Lions Rugby Union, turned 70 on Saturday. The living legend has been there and done that. The forceful figure has played in 13 Tests for his country, in more than 100 games for the then Transvaal and probably double that in club rugby. 

Former Lions wing Melvine Smith lives in Bonn, Germany and is the coach of the German rugby team. He was part of various Lions teams from 2000 to 2004 and played with some big names like Bryan Habana, Jaque Fourie, Cobus Grobbelaar, Gcobani Bobo, Kaya Malotana and the likes.

The Lions Rugby Company would like to take the opportunity to thank all of their staff and players for understanding and embracing the difficult and very challenging times that was forced upon them by COVID-19.

1.Best roommate on tour?

-Marnus (Schoeman). If Marnus is your roommate, you can be sure of laughs and you can always be yourself around him.

Piet Landman harvested rugby.

The official statistician of Transvaal and later Lions rugby passed away suddenly last Saturday morning at the relatively young age of 58 after being diagnosed with cancer only a fortnight ago.

The Emirates Lions had a very business oriented day on Monday.

It all started with intense team sessions in the team room of the hotel where game analysis was discussed at length with a lot of senior players giving their input.

EMIRATES LIONS TOURING SQUAD                                  

The Emirates Lions depart for their tour of Australasia on Saturday 22 February at 18:50.

Coach Cash van Rooyen named a settled squad for their four-match tour of Australia and New Zealand in the next month.

Team Announcement: Jaguares vs Emirates Lion

Jose Amalfitani Stadium, Buenos Aires (2 Feb, 01:00)

Lions to support fight against Australia bushfires

The Lions Rugby Company and the Emirates Lions team want to support the fight against the bushfires in Australia and will be making a contribution to WIRES (Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service).

The two Emirates Lions teams to take part in friendly matches against the Vodacom Blue Bulls are:

Friday 17 January Emirates Lions XV vs Vodacom Blue Bulls XV (Loftus B)     

Are you ready?

Do you feel that heartbeat pulsing through the new Canterbury home jersey?

It’s the heartbeat of Jozi. The new Lions jersey is iconic in its own way, designed to embody the spirit of One Family. One Team. One heartbeat.

The Lions Rugby Company is pleased to announce Ivan van Rooyen as Head Coach of the Emirates Lions.

“Ivan van Rooyen is someone who can build on the successes of past years. He has proven his worth within the Lions Company Structures,” said Rudolf Straeuli, CEO of the Lions Rugby Company (LRC).

Lions and Swys de Bruin part ways

After 7 years with the Lions, initially as an Assistant Coach and thereafter as Head Coach, Swys de Bruin will part with the Lions Rugby Company (Pty) Ltd. This decision is mutual, and both Lions Rugby Company (Pty) Ltd. and Swys de Bruin have parted ways amicably.

SA Select Women name exciting young mix for Spain encounter

The GLRU is very proud of Piwokuhle Nyanda for her inclusion in the SA Select Women's team to face Spain on Saturday.

2020 Super Rugby Match Schedule

The 2020 Super Rugby match schedule has been announced by SANZAAR. The tournament will kick-off with two derbies on Friday 31 January. The Blues will host the Chiefs at Eden Park in Auckland while later the same evening the Brumbies will host the Reds at GIO Stadium in Canberra.

Lions go blue for final

The Xerox Golden Lions will run out in their 22nd Currie Cup final when they face the Toyota Free State Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Saturday and will do so in the not so unfamiliar royal blue jersey to commemorate 130 years of domestic rugby.

The Xerox Golden Lions powered into the final of the Currie Cup after defeating Griquas 34-19 in Johannesburg on Saturday.

Top of the log for large part of the season, Griquas’ stellar campaign has now halted abruptly. 

The Xerox Golden Lions coaching staff picked an unchanged side for the Currie Cup semi-final against the Tafel Lager Griquas at Emirates Airline Park on Saturday.

Captain Ross Cronje and Marnus Schoeman both celebrate their 70th caps in Currie Cup. Cronje played in 55 for the Lions while the flankers’ stat include other teams.

Xerox Golden Lions number eight Hacjivah Dayimani’s name is a combination of the words Akiva, which means to protect and the Xhosa name Mpumelelo which means achiever.

The Xerox Golden Lions team to host the Vodacom Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup at Emirates Airline Park on Saturday shows three changes from last weekend.

Eddie Fouche comes in for the injured Jan-Louis la Grange (concussion) at centre, lock Reinhard Nothnagel replaces Wilhelm van der Sluys (concussion) and Len Massyn gets the nod at flank.

The Xerox Golden Lions remain the Come Kids of note after yet another victory was secured over the Toyota Free State Cheetahs by 24-22 after trailing at half-time 19-7.

The men from Jozi are now the only unbeaten side in this years’ Currie Cup.

Lions up against log leaders

The Xerox Golden Lions will face log leaders, the Toyota Free State Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Friday evening.

The Xerox Golden Lions are the comeback kids as they once again fought from behind to secure a massively impressive 30-28 win over DHL Western Province in Cape Town on Saturday with quicksilver Tyrone Green scoring the winning try in spectacular fashion.

It was all WP in the early stages of the game and the home side were rewarded with their first try after just seven minutes.

The Xerox Golden Lions official unofficial team commissioner Jonathan needs no introduction. Coach Cash van Rooyen welcomed him at training this week and the message was clear:

LEEEUS, LEEEUS, LEEEEUS! #CurrieCupReloaded #LionsPrid

Consistency was the key in the Lions Rugby Company’s appointment of the Coach of the Xerox Golden Lions for the 2019 DirectAxis Currie Cup season.

Ivan van Rooyen will retain the role of head coach of the Xerox Golden Lions after they just missed out on a spot in the final last year.

The Xerox Golden Lions Under 21 side travels to Durban for a vital clash with the Cell C Sharks in the Under 21 Championship in Durban on Saturday.

The men from Jozi had an impressive win over the Free State Cheetahs last weekend.

Malcolm Marx

In a significant boost for SA Rugby and the Lions Rugby Company, Springbok hooker Malcolm Marx has extended his contract with the Emirates Lions until 2021.

Sangweni starts against Baby Blacks

Junior Springbok coach Chean Roux made three changes to his starting team to face New Zealand in their World Rugby U20 Championship Pool C decider in Rosario on Wednesday, with Sibusiso Sangweni (flank), Elrigh Louw (lock), and Thaakir Abrahams (wing) earning their first starts.

Henco van Wyk of Monument Hoerskool will captain the Under 18 Bidvest Waltons Xerox Golden Lions Craven Week side this year.

The centre is the 9th Monna to lead the provincial side in the last ten years.  The only exception was Travis Gordon in 2017 who hails from KES.

Kwagga shines as Lions roar

Kwagga Smith scored two tries as the Emirates Lions banked a crucial 41-22 bonus-point win against the DHL Stormers in Johannesburg on Saturday.

Q: If you ever found yourself auditioning for a music reality TV show, what song would you sing and why?

A: A Thousand Miles by Vanessa Carlton. It’s my go-to feel good song.

Q: What is the TV Programme you can’t miss?

A: It isn’t a new show, but I love Friends.

Smith Schoeman & Co.

Smith and Schoeman sounds like a partnership with their names shining in glitter at a big company. In this case, however, Smith and Schoeman are in a partnership on the side of the Emirates Lions scrum and their names are shining bright in rugby circles.

Lions tame Highlanders

A late try by Emirates Lions winger Courtnall Skosan sealed the victory for the Emirates Lions as they downed the Highlanders 38-29 in their Vodacom Super Rugby match at Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg on Saturday.

A late try by Emirates Lions winger Courtnall Skosan sealed the victory for the Emirates Lions as they downed the Highlanders 38-29 in their Vodacom Super Rugby match at Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg on Saturday.

Q: What is your (honest) opinion about Joburg?

I was a bit nervous heading up here, as everyone said Joburg isn’t really a nice place, but I have been really happy here. So, Joburg has been great!

Vodacom Super Rugby

Malcolm Marx retains the captaincy for the Vodacom Super Rugby clash against the Highlanders at Emirates Airline Park on Saturday.

Vodacom Super Rugby

Malcolm Marx retains the captaincy for the Vodacom Super Rugby clash against the Highlanders at Emirates Airline Park on Saturday.

Lions XV on a winning streak

Three hat-tricks were scored by the Xerox Golden Lions XV – No 8 Jo-Hanko de Villiers and winger Madosh Tambwe dotting down three times in their victory over the Leopards in Wolmaransstad on Saturday. 

Joey Mongalo

– Disciplinary Outcome

The Emirates Lions were in rampant form when they disposed of the Chiefs in Hamilton on Friday morning, leading 20-0 at half-time and finally taking it 23-17.

Amid a week of adversity the team pulled together and showed some of the earlier form they are best known for and in the first half ran the home-side ragged with deft handling and foot skills.

Warren Whiteley resumes the captaincy of the Emirates Lions when they take on the Chiefs in the FMG Stadium in Waikato on Friday (09:35 SA time).

Whiteley returns seven weeks after suffering a pectoralis major muscle tear in the match against the Stormers in Cape Town. He joined the Lions on Sunday after passing a fitness test on Friday.

Mapoe in 100th game for Emirates Lions

Lionel Mapoe is celebrating 100 Vodacom Super Rugby caps this weekend when the Emirates Lions take the field against the Brumbies at the GIO Stadium in Canberra on Saturday (11:45 SA time).

Emirates Lions welcome back Marvin Orie

The Emirates Lions will face the Melbourne Rebels in a Vodacom Super Rugby game at Emirates Airline Park on Saturday with a new lock pairing as Marvin Orie returns to action.

#SuperHeroSunday team list announced

Warren Whiteley is the real Spiderman when he leads the Emirates Lions against the Cell C Sharks at the Cape Town Stadium on #SuperHeroSunday.

SuperHeroSunday - some thing you never knew you needed

 Get your Spider-Man suit ready - Marvel is coming to South Africa in a big way as a plethora of superheroes get ready to invade Cape Town on Sunday, 3 February for #SuperHeroSunday.

Meet our new young prop

Carlu Sadie, one of the fresh new faces at the Emirates Lions, has spoken about settling in with his new team mates in Johannesburg, moving from Bellville, the place he grew up in, and about the huge influence former Springbok prop Julian Redelinghuys has had on him. 

Get your Spiderman rugby jersey today

#SuperHeroSunday

The new Spiderman rugby jerseys are now available for you to purchase. Make sure you grab yours ahead of the #SuperHeroSunday match this weekend.

Mahuza to lead youngsters

The Emirates Lions will take on the Vodacom Bulls in a friendly on Saturday, 26 January at 15h00 at Loftus Versfeld B-field.