Lions load up on URC players

The shake-up at the Fidelity ADT Lions may be detrimental to their long-term URC success, but they’ve made it very clear they want to win the Carling Currie Cup.

News from the camp is that coach Mziwakhe Nkosi is not coaching the team from this week onwards, with head coach Ivan van Rooyen taking over until the end of the Currie Cup.

In addition, the Lions have ramped matters up and brought in several URC stalwarts, including Springbok fullback Quan Horn, winger Richard Kriel, Bok flanker Ruan Venter, and new signings Chris Smith and Eduan Keyter.

Junior Bok sensation and World Rugby’s Junior World Championship player of the tournament, Haashim Pead, is on the bench and in line for his senior debut this weekend.

The moves are a clear sign that the Lions are repeating their decision last season to try and win the Currie Cup and are likely to use more URC players in the next few weeks.

Fidelity ADT Lions: Quan Horn; Kelly Mpeku, Henco van Wyk, Richard Kriel, Angelo Davids; Chris Smith, Nico Steyn; WJ Steenkamp, Ruan Venter, Jarod Cairns, Ruan Delport, Dylan Sjoblom, RF Schoeman, PJ Botha, SJ Kotze.

Replacements: Franco Marais, Juan Schoeman, Sebastian Lombard, Darrien Landsberg, Tiaan Wessels, Haashim Pead, Sam Francis, Eduard Keyter