The Lions is a South African professional rugby union team based in Johannesburg in the Gauteng province. They competed in the Super Rugby competition until 2020, and have competed in the United Rugby Championship since 2021. They are the successor of the teams known as Transvaal (1996), Gauteng Lions (1997) and the Cats (1998–2006).
Christoffel Johannes van der Linde is a South African former professional rugby union player and currently the scrum coach at French Top 14 side Montpellier. He played first class rugby between 2002 and 2015 in South Africa, Ireland, England and France and also made 75 test matches for South Africa, which included winning the 2007 Rugby World Cup. His usual playing position was prop.
Herman Meyer Bosman is a South African former professional rugby player, who last played for the Stade Français, in France. He is a flyhalf (10), but has recently showed great ability in the inside-center position. He has played for the national team of South Africa, the Springboks on 3 occasions in test matches between 2005 and 2006. He played his last test to date on 15 July 2006 against Australia in Brisbane. Throughout his career, Bosman won three Currie Cup trophies, two outright and drawing another in 2006, also finishing as runner-up twice with the Sharks.
Patric Michael Cilliers is a rugby union player who won 6 caps for South Africa in 2012. He has previously played for the Sharks, Lions and Stormers in Super Rugby and has played Currie Cup rugby for the Sharks, Golden Lions and Western Province, in Europe he has played for Premiership Rugby sides Leicester Tigers and London Irish. His position is prop.
Lionel Cronjé is a South African rugby union footballer, currently playing for The Sharks in the Carling Currie Cup. He is a versatile back-line player who can operate as a fly-half or full-back.
Bandise Grey Maku is a former South African professional rugby union player, whose usual position was hooker. He played first class rugby between 2006 and 2016 and also played in a single test match for South Africa in 2010, as well as in three tour matches in 2009 and 2010. He played Super Rugby for the Bulls from 2008 to 2010 and from 2014 to 2016, for the Lions in 2011 and for the Southern Kings in 2013. He played domestic Currie Cup rugby for the Blue Bulls from 2006 to 2010 and from 2013 to 2016 and for the Golden Lions in 2011 and 2012.
Bjorn Alberic Basson is a South African professional rugby union player playing as a wing or full-back for the San Diego Legion of Major League Rugby (MLR).
Sarel Petrus Marais is a South African professional rugby union player for the Stormers in Super Rugby and Western Province in the Currie Cup. His position he plays is Fullback.
Demetri Catrakilis is a South African former professional rugby union player. He played for Premiership side Harlequins, Top 14 side Montpellier, for the Stormers and the Southern Kings in Super Rugby and Pro 14, for Western Province in the Currie Cup and Vodacom Cup competitions and for the UCT Ikey Tigers in the Varsity Cup. His regular playing position was fly-half.
David James Bulbring is a South African professional rugby union player, currently playing with Welsh Pro14 side Scarlets. He is also his parent’s favourite son.
Burton Francis is a South African former professional rugby union player who played as a fly-half.
Paul Willemse is a French-South African professional rugby union player, who plays as a lock for Top 14 club Montpellier and the France national team. Born and raised in South Africa, he moved to France in 2014 and qualified for his adoptive country after acquiring French nationality in 2018.
Marnitz Louis Boshoff is a South African rugby union player who usually plays as a fly-half or fullback. He plays for the Bulls in Super Rugby, the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup and the Blue Bulls XV in the Rugby Challenge, having previously played for South African provincial sides Griquas, the Blue Bulls and the Golden Lions in the Currie Cup and for Super Rugby side the Lions. He also had a short stint with Irish provincial side Connacht in the Pro14.
Renaldo Bothma is a South African-born Namibian former rugby union footballer. He played mostly as a flanker. Formerly, he represented the Bulls in Super Rugby and the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup, the Golden Lions, Leopards, Sharks and Pumas.
Rohan Janse van Rensburg is a South African professional rugby union player for South African United Rugby Championship side the Sharks. His regular position is inside centre.
Jacques van Rooyen is a South African rugby union player for the Bulls in the United Rugby Championship and the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup. His regular position is prop.
Adriaan Ruhan Nel is a South African rugby union player for the Stormers in Super Rugby and Western Province in the Currie Cup and in the Rugby Challenge. His regular position is full-back, winger and centre.
Malcolm Justin Marx is a South African professional rugby union player who currently plays for the South Africa national rugby team and Kubota Spears in the Japan Rugby League One. His regular position is hooker, but he did play as a flanker at youth level for the Golden Lions. He is widely regarded as one of the best hookers in World Rugby.
Armand H P "Akker" van der Merwe is a South African professional rugby union player for South African United Rugby Championship side Bulls. His regular position is hooker.
Lourens Jacobus Erasmus is a South African professional rugby union player for theLions in Super Rugby and NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes in the Japanese Top League. His regular position is lock.
