List of Lions (United Rugby Championship) players

Last updated

This is a list of rugby union footballers who have played for the Lions in Super Rugby, the Pro14 and United Rugby Championship competitions, and the EPCR Challenge Cup. [1] [2] The list includes any player that has played in a regular season match, semi-final or final for the Lions, ordered by debut date and name. The Lions competed in Super Rugby in 1996 as Transvaal, in 1997 as the Gauteng Lions, as the Cats between 1999 and 2006 and as the Lions between 2007 and 2012 and from 2014 to 2020, competed in the Pro14 Rainbow Cup in 2021, the United Rugby Championship from 2021 and in the EPCR Challenge Cup since 2022. [3]

Contents

Super Rugby players (2014–2020)

No.NameCapsTriesCPDGPointsDebutLast
1 Marnitz Boshoff 2912552823515/02/201428/05/2016
2 Chrysander Botha 915/02/201431/05/2014
3 Robbie Coetzee 4752515/02/201426/04/2019
4 Ruan Combrinck 632410315015/02/201426/04/2019
5 Faf de Klerk 651417215/02/201405/08/2017
6 Jaco Kriel 64199515/02/201417/10/2020
7 Lionel Mapoe 852814015/02/201415/06/2019
8 Derick Minnie 1915/02/201411/04/2015
9 Franco Mostert 8342015/02/201404/08/2018
10 Julian Redelinghuys 451515/02/201406/08/2016
11 Franco van der Merwe 815/02/201412/07/2014
12 Schalk van der Merwe 251515/02/201406/06/2015
13 Deon van Rensburg 131515/02/201404/07/2014
14 Stefan Watermeyer 1321015/02/201424/05/2014
15 Warren Whiteley 71126015/02/201411/05/2019
16 Willie Wepener 81515/02/201412/04/2014
17 Alwyn Hollenbach 111515/02/201406/06/2015
18 Jacques van Rooyen 6652515/02/201404/08/2018
19 Ross Cronjé 8573515/02/201407/11/2020
20 Warwick Tecklenburg 4563015/02/201406/08/2016
21 Willie Britz 1315/02/201412/07/2014
22 Ruan Dreyer 7631515/02/201407/11/2020
23 JW Jonker 1122/02/201424/05/2014
24 MB Lusaseni 1422/02/201416/05/2015
25 Coenie van Wyk 81522/02/201404/07/2014
26 Courtnall Skosan 793819001/03/201407/11/2020
27 Elton Jantjies 10414249124595508/03/201407/11/2020
28 Corné Fourie 6452508/03/201404/08/2018
29 Mark Pretorius 222/03/201402/05/2015
30 Stephan de Wit 422/03/201430/07/2016
31 Andries Coetzee 86136128605/04/201414/03/2020
32 Martin Muller 1605/04/201416/07/2016
33 Malcolm Marx 683015005/04/201415/06/2019
34 Anthony Volmink 1442019/04/201428/05/2017
35 Rudi Mathee 519/04/201431/05/2014
36 Akker van der Merwe 5084003/05/201405/08/2017
37 Stokkies Hanekom 631/05/201416/07/2016
38 Charles Marais 131/05/201431/05/2014
39 Howard Mnisi 4221013/02/201504/08/2018
40 Robert Kruger 2513/02/201502/03/2019
41 JP du Preez 121/02/201521/02/2015
42 Harold Vorster 59115521/02/201508/06/2019
43 Ruaan Lerm 321/02/201516/07/2016
44 Sampie Mastriet 528/02/201527/03/2015
45 Jaco van der Walt 22411128/02/201518/03/2017
46 Andries Ferreira 4621014/03/201512/05/2018
47 Mark Richards 111/04/201511/04/2015
48 Lohan Jacobs 111/04/201511/04/2015
49 Kwagga Smith 502110523/05/201508/06/2019
50 Dillon Smit 2730/05/201509/10/2020
51 Dylan Smith 5521027/02/201617/10/2020
52 Ruan Ackermann 3463027/02/201605/08/2017
53 Rohan Janse van Rensburg 39199527/02/201626/05/2018
54 Fabian Booysen 205/03/201616/07/2016
55 Jacques Nel 1112/03/201601/07/2017
56 Cyle Brink 4552519/03/201615/06/2019
57 Lourens Erasmus 4542019/03/201604/08/2018
58 JW Bell 223/04/201630/04/2016
59 Ramone Samuels 323/04/201616/07/2016
60 Pieter Scholtz 230/04/201616/07/2016
61 Sylvian Mahuza 37136514/05/201626/04/2019
62 Koch Marx 116/07/201616/07/2016
63 Ashlon Davids 316/07/201605/05/2018
64 Clinton Theron 116/07/201616/07/2016
65 Johannes Jonker 3725/02/201715/06/2019
66 Marvin Orie 4331511/03/201707/11/2020
67 Shaun Reynolds 162733311/03/201714/03/2020
68 Madosh Tambwe 1294518/03/201726/05/2018
69 Sti Sithole 241525/03/201707/11/2020
70 Hencus van Wyk 325/03/201706/05/2017
71 Aphiwe Dyantyi 29136517/02/201815/06/2019
72 Hacjivah Dayimani 3131517/02/201817/10/2020
73 Jacobie Adriaanse 1317/02/201805/04/2019
74 Marnus Schoeman 40147017/02/201807/11/2020
75 Marco Jansen van Vuren 424/02/201807/04/2018
76 Len Massyn 1317/03/201807/11/2020
77 Nic Groom 2131520/04/201808/06/2019
78 Rhyno Herbst 91516/02/201915/06/2019
79 Carlü Sadie 2621016/02/201907/11/2020
80 Wandisile Simelane 1031516/02/201907/11/2020
81 Ruan Vermaak 816/02/201914/03/2020
82 Frans van Wyk 816/02/201914/03/2020
83 Pieter Jansen 1016/02/201914/03/2020
84 Stephan Lewies 131523/02/201901/06/2019
85 Gianni Lombard 101323/02/201907/11/2020
86 Franco Naudé 602/03/201926/04/2019
87 Vincent Tshituka 1702/03/201907/11/2020
88 James Venter 209/03/201923/03/2019
89 Nathan McBeth 809/03/201907/11/2020
90 Tyrone Green 1521016/03/201914/03/2020
91 Jan-Henning Campher 1616/03/201917/10/2020
92 Wilhelm van der Sluys 1305/04/201917/10/2020
93 Reinhard Nothnagel 61525/05/201907/11/2020
94 Jannie du Plessis 502/02/202030/10/2020
95 Dan Kriel 1031502/02/202007/11/2020
96 Duncan Matthews 202/02/202008/02/2020
97 Ruben Schoeman 802/02/202007/11/2020
98 Tiaan Swanepoel 302/02/202007/11/2020
99 André Warner 41502/02/202014/03/2020
100 Mannie Rass 502/02/202014/03/2020
101 Morné van den Berg 101502/02/202007/11/2020
102 Willem Alberts 515/02/202009/10/2020
103 Jamba Ulengo 521028/02/202017/10/2020
104 Rabz Maxwane 21509/10/202017/10/2020
105 Burger Odendaal 41509/10/202007/11/2020
106 EW Viljoen 209/10/202017/10/2020
107 Jaco Visagie 41509/10/202007/11/2020
108 Wiehahn Herbst 209/10/202017/10/2020
109 MJ Pelser 41509/10/202007/11/2020
110 Stean Pienaar 21530/10/202007/11/2020
111 PJ Botha 230/10/202007/11/2020

[a]

  1. Due to lack of archived evidence, only players who represented the Lions from the 2014 Super Rugby season to the Super Rugby Unlocked competition in 2020 are listed here.

Other Super Rugby players

The following players have represented the Lions in Super Rugby prior to 2014, however due to lack of archived evidence no confirmed number of appearances and points can be confirmed for these players. Due to the lack of archived evidence, this list is incomplete. Players listed in italics only represented the Lions in the 2013 promotion/relegation play-off, which were only recorded as appearances by the SARU.

Pro14/United Rugby Championship players

No.NameCapsTriesCPDGPointsDebutLast
1 PJ Botha 7394501/05/202111/05/2025
2 Jannie du Plessis 501/05/202109/04/2022
3 Francke Horn 642311501/05/202119/04/2025
4 Dan Kriel 301/05/202105/06/2021
5 MJ Pelser 521001/05/202105/06/2021
6 Stean Pienaar 1621001/05/202123/03/2024
7 Ruben Schoeman 5563001/05/202126/04/2025
8 Wandisile Simelane 2031501/05/202130/04/2022
9 Sti Sithole 3001/05/202123/12/2022
10 Courtnall Skosan 501/05/202105/06/2021
11 Tiaan Swanepoel 13431701/05/202121/05/2022
12 Vincent Tshituka 1942001/05/202121/05/2022
13 Wilhelm van der Sluys 201/05/202115/10/2021
14 André Warner 2563001/05/202128/01/2023
15 Fred Zeilinga 91995001/05/202129/01/2022
16 EW Viljoen 131141901/05/202112/02/2022
17 Carlü Sadie 2001/05/202130/04/2022
18 Hacjivah Dayimani 101/05/202101/05/2021
19 Reinhard Nothnagel 4501/05/202130/11/2024
20 Morné Brandon 1101/05/202117/05/2025
21 Nathan McBeth 201/05/202108/05/2021
22 Emmanuel Tshituka 49105001/05/202101/06/2024
23 Morné van den Berg 671417201/05/202126/04/2025
24 Rabz Maxwane 34147008/05/202121/12/2024
25 Jaco Visagie 5531508/05/202117/05/2025
26 Burger Odendaal 1821008/05/202130/04/2022
27 Asenathi Ntlabakanye 5631508/05/202117/05/2025
28 Len Massyn 308/05/202105/06/2021
29 Jordan Hendrikse 4537046129608/05/202101/06/2024
30 Willem Alberts 291215/05/202101/06/2024
31 Ruan Dreyer 421515/05/202101/06/2024
32 Mannie Rass 3121022/05/202129/03/2025
33 Pieter Jansen van Vuren 1424/09/202128/01/2023
34 Jaco Kriel 1742024/09/202122/04/2023
35 Jamba Ulengo 21524/09/202101/10/2021
36 Sibusiso Sangweni 2724/09/202120/04/2024
37 Eddie Fouché 224/09/202101/10/2021
38 Divan Rossouw 401/10/202105/02/2022
39 Ruhan Straeuli 151509/10/202125/02/2023
40 Morgan Naudé 311509/10/202111/05/2025
41 Edwill van der Merwe 652914504/12/202117/05/2025
42 Matt More 304/12/202121/05/2022
43 Ruan Venter 4752529/01/202217/05/2025
44 PJ Steenkamp 205/02/202225/02/2022
45 Quan Horn 60136505/02/202217/05/2025
46 JP Smith 411512/02/202201/06/2024
47 Lunga Ncube 125/02/202225/02/2022
48 Nico Steyn 171221525/02/202217/05/2025
49 Henco van Wyk 36168002/04/202217/05/2025
50 Jarod Cairns 1921021/05/202217/05/2025
51 Andries Coetzee 1431517/09/202205/11/2023
52 Marius Louw 49115517/09/202217/05/2025
53 Ruan Smith 1517/09/202206/01/2024
54 Zander du Plessis 617/09/202204/12/2022
55 Sanele Nohamba 4174825121217/09/202221/12/2024
56 Gianni Lombard 272261410417/09/202229/03/2025
57 Sango Xamlashe 224/09/202204/12/2022
58 Darrien Landsberg 2604/12/202211/05/2025
59 Rynhardt Jonker 181523/12/202211/05/2025
60 Emile van Heerden 106/01/202306/01/2023
61 Michael van Vuuren 306/01/202318/02/2023
62 Ruan Delport 3018/02/202317/05/2025
63 Rhynardt Rijnsburger 51525/02/202322/04/2023
64 Travis Gordon 225/03/202315/04/2023
65 Corné Fourie 821/10/202302/03/2024
66 Richard Kriel 2984021/10/202317/05/2025
67 Hanru Sirgel 1431528/10/202318/05/2024
68 JC Pretorius 4163005/11/202317/05/2025
69 Izan Esterhuizen 827/01/202417/05/2025
70 Etienne Oosthuizen 81517/02/202422/02/2025
71 Conraad van Vuuren 121517/02/202408/03/2025
72 Erich Cronjé 1621017/02/202421/12/2024
73 Tapiwa Mafura 61528/09/202419/04/2025
74 Kade Wolhuter 7111105728/09/202411/05/2025
75 Franco Marais 931528/09/202429/03/2025
76 Juan Schoeman 1628/09/202417/05/2025
77 Sibabalo Qoma 828/09/202411/05/2025
78 Renzo du Plessis 101528/09/202417/05/2025
79 Heiko Pohlmann 405/10/202426/10/2024
80 RF Schoeman 1219/10/202417/05/2025
81 WJ Steenkamp 530/11/202417/05/2025
82 Sam Francis 241221/12/202425/01/2025
83 Raynard Roets 221/12/202425/01/2025
84 SJ Kotze 925/01/202517/05/2025
85 Layton Horn 229/03/202517/05/2025
86 Kelly Mpeku 319/04/202517/05/2025
87 Bronson Mills 326/04/202517/05/2025
88 Lubabalo Dobela 3141326/04/202517/05/2025

European Rugby Champions Cup/Challenge Cup players

No.NameCapsTriesCPDGPointsDebutLast
1 PJ Botha 921010/12/202218/01/2025
2 Andries Coetzee 911810/12/202206/04/2024
3 Ruan Dreyer 510/12/202206/04/2024
4 Zander du Plessis 310/12/202206/04/2024
5 Jaco Kriel 510/12/202208/04/2023
6 Darrien Landsberg 1210/12/202204/04/2025
7 Gianni Lombard 103713210/12/202204/04/2025
8 Rabz Maxwane 821010/12/202214/12/2024
9 Reinhard Nothnagel 510/12/202214/12/2024
10 Ruben Schoeman 61510/12/202204/04/2025
11 Sti Sithole 210/12/202216/12/2022
12 Emmanuel Tshituka 831510/12/202206/04/2024
13 Edwill van der Merwe 1152510/12/202204/04/2025
14 André Warner 410/12/202222/01/2023
15 Sango Xamlashe 110/12/202210/12/2022
16 Asenathi Ntlabakanye 121510/12/202204/04/2025
17 Jordan Hendrikse 718177210/12/202206/04/2024
18 JP Smith 81510/12/202221/01/2024
19 Ruan Venter 742010/12/202204/04/2025
20 Sanele Nohamba 821334510/12/202211/01/2025
21 Jaco Visagie 1231510/12/202204/04/2025
22 Rynhardt Jonker 1110/12/202204/04/2025
23 Sibusiso Sangweni 210/12/202216/12/2022
24 Willem Alberts 716/12/202206/04/2024
25 Quan Horn 1042016/12/202204/04/2025
26 Pieter Jansen van Vuren 216/12/202222/01/2023
27 Marius Louw 1152516/12/202204/04/2025
28 Henco van Wyk 516/12/202218/01/2025
29 Ruan Smith 71516/12/202206/04/2024
30 Michael van Vuuren 316/12/202222/01/2023
31 Morné van den Berg 1021014/01/202304/04/2025
32 Emile van Heerden 214/01/202322/01/2023
33 Rhynardt Rijnsburger 314/01/202308/04/2023
34 Ruhan Straeuli 514/01/202311/01/2025
35 JC Pretorius 121514/01/202304/04/2025
36 Morgan Naudé 822/01/202311/01/2025
37 Francke Horn 931501/04/202304/04/2025
38 Mannie Rass 61501/04/202304/04/2025
39 Morné Brandon 51501/04/202306/04/2024
40 Travis Gordon 301/04/202310/12/2023
41 Ruan Delport 608/04/202318/01/2025
42 Erich Cronjé 71510/12/202311/01/2025
43 Corné Fourie 210/12/202313/01/2024
44 Boldwin Hansen 210/12/202313/01/2024
45 Etienne Oosthuizen 510/12/202318/01/2025
46 Raynard Roets 310/12/202313/01/2024
47 Hanru Sirgel 410/12/202306/04/2024
48 Nico Steyn 81210/12/202304/04/2025
49 Conraad van Vuuren 510/12/202311/01/2025
50 Izan Esterhuizen 710/12/202304/04/2025
51 Johan Mulder 210/12/202313/01/2024
52 Richard Kriel 415/12/202304/04/2025
53 Stean Pienaar 213/01/202406/04/2024
54 Kade Wolhuter 2141121/01/202414/12/2024
55 Sam Francis 41511808/12/202418/01/2025
56 Tapiwa Mafura 31508/12/202418/01/2025
57 Franco Marais 21508/12/202404/04/2025
58 WJ Steenkamp 308/12/202411/01/2025
59 SJ Kotze 408/12/202404/04/2025
60 RF Schoeman 408/12/202404/04/2025
61 Renzo du Plessis 108/12/202408/12/2024
62 Jarod Cairns 314/12/202404/04/2025
63 Juan Schoeman 41514/12/202404/04/2025
64 Kelly Mpeku 111/01/202511/01/2025
65 Sibabalo Qoma 104/04/202504/04/2025

References

  1. "Lions rugby team page". all.rugby. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
  2. "Emirates Lions". SANZAAR. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  3. "SARU members vote to seek northern hemisphere future". SA Rugby. 29 September 2020. Retrieved 11 November 2020.