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List of Lions (United Rugby Championship) players

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]

Super Rugby players (2014–2020)

No. Name Caps Tries C P DG Points Debut Last
1 Marnitz Boshoff 29 1 25 52 8 235 15/02/2014 28/05/2016
2 Chrysander Botha 9 15/02/2014 31/05/2014
3 Robbie Coetzee 47 5 25 15/02/2014 26/04/2019
4 Ruan Combrinck 63 24 10 3 150 15/02/2014 26/04/2019
5 Faf de Klerk 65 14 1 72 15/02/2014 05/08/2017
6 Jaco Kriel 64 19 95 15/02/2014 17/10/2020
7 Lionel Mapoe 85 28 140 15/02/2014 15/06/2019
8 Derick Minnie 19 15/02/2014 11/04/2015
9 Franco Mostert 83 4 20 15/02/2014 04/08/2018
10 Julian Redelinghuys 45 1 5 15/02/2014 06/08/2016
11 Franco van der Merwe 8 15/02/2014 12/07/2014
12 Schalk van der Merwe 25 1 5 15/02/2014 06/06/2015
13 Deon van Rensburg 13 1 5 15/02/2014 04/07/2014
14 Stefan Watermeyer 13 2 10 15/02/2014 24/05/2014
15 Warren Whiteley 71 12 60 15/02/2014 11/05/2019
16 Willie Wepener 8 1 5 15/02/2014 12/04/2014
17 Alwyn Hollenbach 11 1 5 15/02/2014 06/06/2015
18 Jacques van Rooyen 66 5 25 15/02/2014 04/08/2018
19 Ross Cronjé 85 7 35 15/02/2014 07/11/2020
20 Warwick Tecklenburg 45 6 30 15/02/2014 06/08/2016
21 Willie Britz 13 15/02/2014 12/07/2014
22 Ruan Dreyer 76 3 15 15/02/2014 07/11/2020
23 JW Jonker 11 22/02/2014 24/05/2014
24 MB Lusaseni 14 22/02/2014 16/05/2015
25 Coenie van Wyk 8 1 5 22/02/2014 04/07/2014
26 Courtnall Skosan 79 38 190 01/03/2014 07/11/2020
27 Elton Jantjies 104 14 249 124 5 955 08/03/2014 07/11/2020
28 Corné Fourie 64 5 25 08/03/2014 04/08/2018
29 Mark Pretorius 2 22/03/2014 02/05/2015
30 Stephan de Wit 4 22/03/2014 30/07/2016
31 Andries Coetzee 86 13 6 1 2 86 05/04/2014 14/03/2020
32 Martin Muller 16 05/04/2014 16/07/2016
33 Malcolm Marx 68 30 150 05/04/2014 15/06/2019
34 Anthony Volmink 14 4 20 19/04/2014 28/05/2017
35 Rudi Mathee 5 19/04/2014 31/05/2014
36 Akker van der Merwe 50 8 40 03/05/2014 05/08/2017
37 Stokkies Hanekom 6 31/05/2014 16/07/2016
38 Charles Marais 1 31/05/2014 31/05/2014
39 Howard Mnisi 42 2 10 13/02/2015 04/08/2018
40 Robert Kruger 25 13/02/2015 02/03/2019
41 JP du Preez 1 21/02/2015 21/02/2015
42 Harold Vorster 59 11 55 21/02/2015 08/06/2019
43 Ruaan Lerm 3 21/02/2015 16/07/2016
44 Sampie Mastriet 5 28/02/2015 27/03/2015
45 Jaco van der Walt 22 4 1 11 28/02/2015 18/03/2017
46 Andries Ferreira 46 2 10 14/03/2015 12/05/2018
47 Mark Richards 1 11/04/2015 11/04/2015
48 Lohan Jacobs 1 11/04/2015 11/04/2015
49 Kwagga Smith 50 21 105 23/05/2015 08/06/2019
50 Dillon Smit 27 30/05/2015 09/10/2020
51 Dylan Smith 55 2 10 27/02/2016 17/10/2020
52 Ruan Ackermann 34 6 30 27/02/2016 05/08/2017
53 Rohan Janse van Rensburg 39 19 95 27/02/2016 26/05/2018
54 Fabian Booysen 2 05/03/2016 16/07/2016
55 Jacques Nel 11 12/03/2016 01/07/2017
56 Cyle Brink 45 5 25 19/03/2016 15/06/2019
57 Lourens Erasmus 45 4 20 19/03/2016 04/08/2018
58 J. W. Bell 2 23/04/2016 30/04/2016
59 Ramone Samuels 3 23/04/2016 16/07/2016
60 Pieter Scholtz 2 30/04/2016 16/07/2016
61 Sylvian Mahuza 37 13 65 14/05/2016 26/04/2019
62 Koch Marx 1 16/07/2016 16/07/2016
63 Ashlon Davids 3 16/07/2016 05/05/2018
64 Clinton Theron 1 16/07/2016 16/07/2016
65 Johannes Jonker 37 25/02/2017 15/06/2019
66 Marvin Orie 43 3 15 11/03/2017 07/11/2020
67 Shaun Reynolds 16 2 7 3 33 11/03/2017 14/03/2020
68 Madosh Tambwe 12 9 45 18/03/2017 26/05/2018
69 Sti Sithole 24 1 5 25/03/2017 07/11/2020
70 Hencus van Wyk 3 25/03/2017 06/05/2017
71 Aphiwe Dyantyi 29 13 65 17/02/2018 15/06/2019
72 Hacjivah Dayimani 31 3 15 17/02/2018 17/10/2020
73 Jacobie Adriaanse 13 17/02/2018 05/04/2019
74 Marnus Schoeman 40 14 70 17/02/2018 07/11/2020
75 Marco Jansen van Vuren 4 24/02/2018 07/04/2018
76 Len Massyn 13 17/03/2018 07/11/2020
77 Nic Groom 21 3 15 20/04/2018 08/06/2019
78 Rhyno Herbst 9 1 5 16/02/2019 15/06/2019
79 Carlü Sadie 26 2 10 16/02/2019 07/11/2020
80 Wandisile Simelane 10 3 15 16/02/2019 07/11/2020
81 Ruan Vermaak 8 16/02/2019 14/03/2020
82 Frans van Wyk 8 16/02/2019 14/03/2020
83 Pieter Jansen 10 16/02/2019 14/03/2020
84 Stephan Lewies 13 1 5 23/02/2019 01/06/2019
85 Gianni Lombard 10 1 3 23/02/2019 07/11/2020
86 Franco Naudé 6 02/03/2019 26/04/2019
87 Vincent Tshituka 17 02/03/2019 07/11/2020
88 James Venter 2 09/03/2019 23/03/2019
89 Nathan McBeth 8 09/03/2019 07/11/2020
90 Tyrone Green 15 2 10 16/03/2019 14/03/2020
91 Jan-Henning Campher 16 16/03/2019 17/10/2020
92 Wilhelm van der Sluys 13 05/04/2019 17/10/2020
93 Reinhard Nothnagel 6 1 5 25/05/2019 07/11/2020
94 Jannie du Plessis 5 02/02/2020 30/10/2020
95 Dan Kriel 10 3 15 02/02/2020 07/11/2020
96 Duncan Matthews 2 02/02/2020 08/02/2020
97 Ruben Schoeman 8 02/02/2020 07/11/2020
98 Tiaan Swanepoel 3 02/02/2020 07/11/2020
99 André Warner 4 1 5 02/02/2020 14/03/2020
100 Mannie Rass 5 02/02/2020 14/03/2020
101 Morné van den Berg 10 1 5 02/02/2020 07/11/2020
102 Willem Alberts 5 15/02/2020 09/10/2020
103 Jamba Ulengo 5 2 10 28/02/2020 17/10/2020
104 Rabz Maxwane 2 1 5 09/10/2020 17/10/2020
105 Burger Odendaal 4 1 5 09/10/2020 07/11/2020
106 EW Viljoen 2 09/10/2020 17/10/2020
107 Jaco Visagie 4 1 5 09/10/2020 07/11/2020
108 Wiehahn Herbst 2 09/10/2020 17/10/2020
109 MJ Pelser 4 1 5 09/10/2020 07/11/2020
110 Stean Pienaar 2 1 5 30/10/2020 07/11/2020
111 PJ Botha 2 30/10/2020 07/11/2020

[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.

Pro14/United Rugby Championship players

No. Name Caps Tries C P DG Points Debut Last
1 PJ Botha 72 9 45 01/05/2021 26/04/2025
2 Jannie du Plessis 5 01/05/2021 09/04/2022
3 Francke Horn 64 23 115 01/05/2021 19/04/2025
4 Dan Kriel 3 01/05/2021 05/06/2021
5 MJ Pelser 5 2 10 01/05/2021 05/06/2021
6 Stean Pienaar 16 2 10 01/05/2021 23/03/2024
7 Ruben Schoeman 55 6 30 01/05/2021 26/04/2025
8 Wandisile Simelane 20 3 15 01/05/2021 30/04/2022
9 Sti Sithole 30 01/05/2021 23/12/2022
10 Courtnall Skosan 5 01/05/2021 05/06/2021
11 Tiaan Swanepoel 13 4 3 17 01/05/2021 21/05/2022
12 Vincent Tshituka 19 4 20 01/05/2021 21/05/2022
13 Wilhelm van der Sluys 2 01/05/2021 15/10/2021
14 André Warner 25 6 30 01/05/2021 28/01/2023
15 Fred Zeilinga 9 1 9 9 50 01/05/2021 29/01/2022
16 EW Viljoen 13 1 1 4 19 01/05/2021 12/02/2022
17 Carlü Sadie 20 01/05/2021 30/04/2022
18 Hacjivah Dayimani 1 01/05/2021 01/05/2021
19 Reinhard Nothnagel 45 01/05/2021 30/11/2024
20 Morné Brandon 10 01/05/2021 27/01/2024
21 Nathan McBeth 2 01/05/2021 08/05/2021
22 Emmanuel Tshituka 49 10 50 01/05/2021 01/06/2024
23 Morné van den Berg 67 14 1 72 01/05/2021 26/04/2025
24 Rabz Maxwane 34 14 70 08/05/2021 21/12/2024
25 Jaco Visagie 53 1 5 08/05/2021 26/04/2025
26 Burger Odendaal 18 2 10 08/05/2021 30/04/2022
27 Asenathi Ntlabakanye 54 3 15 08/05/2021 26/04/2025
28 Len Massyn 3 08/05/2021 05/06/2021
29 Jordan Hendrikse 45 3 70 46 1 296 08/05/2021 01/06/2024
30 Willem Alberts 29 1 2 15/05/2021 01/06/2024
31 Ruan Dreyer 42 1 5 15/05/2021 01/06/2024
32 Mannie Rass 31 2 10 22/05/2021 29/03/2025
33 Pieter Jansen van Vuren 14 24/09/2021 28/01/2023
34 Jaco Kriel 17 4 20 24/09/2021 22/04/2023
35 Jamba Ulengo 2 1 5 24/09/2021 01/10/2021
36 Sibusiso Sangweni 27 24/09/2021 20/04/2024
37 Eddie Fouché 2 24/09/2021 01/10/2021
38 Divan Rossouw 4 01/10/2021 05/02/2022
39 Ruhan Straeuli 15 1 5 09/10/2021 25/02/2023
40 Morgan Naudé 30 1 5 09/10/2021 26/04/2025
41 Edwill van der Merwe 63 28 140 04/12/2021 26/04/2025
42 Matt More 3 04/12/2021 21/05/2022
43 Ruan Venter 45 5 25 29/01/2022 19/04/2025
44 PJ Steenkamp 2 05/02/2022 25/02/2022
45 Quan Horn 58 13 65 05/02/2022 26/04/2025
46 JP Smith 41 1 5 12/02/2022 01/06/2024
47 Lunga Ncube 1 25/02/2022 25/02/2022
48 Nico Steyn 15 2 2 10 25/02/2022 26/04/2025
49 Henco van Wyk 35 15 75 02/04/2022 26/04/2025
50 Jarod Cairns 17 2 10 21/05/2022 26/04/2025
51 Andries Coetzee 14 3 15 17/09/2022 05/11/2023
52 Marius Louw 48 11 55 17/09/2022 19/04/2025
53 Ruan Smith 15 17/09/2022 06/01/2024
54 Zander du Plessis 6 17/09/2022 04/12/2022
55 Sanele Nohamba 41 7 48 25 1 212 17/09/2022 21/12/2024
56 Gianni Lombard 27 2 26 14 104 17/09/2022 29/03/2025
57 Sango Xamlashe 2 24/09/2022 04/12/2022
58 Darrien Landsberg 25 04/12/2022 26/04/2025
59 Rynhardt Jonker 17 1 5 23/12/2022 26/04/2025
60 Emile van Heerden 1 06/01/2023 06/01/2023
61 Michael van Vuuren 3 06/01/2023 18/02/2023
62 Ruan Delport 27 18/02/2023 26/04/2025
63 Rhynardt Rijnsburger 5 1 5 25/02/2023 22/04/2023
64 Travis Gordon 2 25/03/2023 15/04/2023
65 Corné Fourie 8 21/10/2023 02/03/2024
66 Richard Kriel 27 6 30 21/10/2023 26/04/2025
67 Hanru Sirgel 14 3 15 28/10/2023 18/05/2024
68 JC Pretorius 39 6 30 05/11/2023 26/04/2025
69 Izan Esterhuizen 7 27/01/2024 26/04/2025
70 Etienne Oosthuizen 8 1 5 17/02/2024 22/02/2025
71 Conraad van Vuuren 12 1 5 17/02/2024 08/03/2025
72 Erich Cronjé 16 2 10 17/02/2024 21/12/2024
73 Tapiwa Mafura 6 1 5 28/09/2024 19/04/2025
74 Kade Wolhuter 6 1 10 10 55 28/09/2024 26/04/2025
75 Franco Marais 9 3 15 28/09/2024 29/03/2025
76 Juan Schoeman 15 28/09/2024 19/04/2025
77 Sibabalo Qoma 7 28/09/2024 19/04/2025
78 Renzo du Plessis 8 1 5 28/09/2024 26/04/2025
79 Heiko Pohlmann 4 05/10/2024 26/10/2024
80 RF Schoeman 10 19/10/2024 26/04/2025
81 WJ Steenkamp 4 30/11/2024 08/03/2025
82 Sam Francis 2 4 12 21/12/2024 25/01/2025
83 Raynard Roets 2 21/12/2024 25/01/2025
84 SJ Kotze 7 25/01/2025 26/04/2025
85 Layton Horn 1 29/03/2025 29/03/2025
86 Kelly Mpeku 1 19/04/2025 19/04/2025
87 Bronson Mills 1 26/04/2025 26/04/2025
88 Lubabalo Dobela 1 1 2 26/04/2025 26/04/2025

European Rugby Champions Cup/Challenge Cup players

No. Name Caps Tries C P DG Points Debut Last
1 PJ Botha 9 2 10 10/12/2022 18/01/2025
2 Andries Coetzee 9 1 1 8 10/12/2022 06/04/2024
3 Ruan Dreyer 5 10/12/2022 06/04/2024
4 Zander du Plessis 3 10/12/2022 06/04/2024
5 Jaco Kriel 5 10/12/2022 08/04/2023
6 Darrien Landsberg 12 10/12/2022 04/04/2025
7 Gianni Lombard 10 3 7 1 32 10/12/2022 04/04/2025
8 Rabz Maxwane 8 2 10 10/12/2022 14/12/2024
9 Reinhard Nothnagel 5 10/12/2022 14/12/2024
10 Ruben Schoeman 6 1 5 10/12/2022 04/04/2025
11 Sti Sithole 2 10/12/2022 16/12/2022
12 Emmanuel Tshituka 8 3 15 10/12/2022 06/04/2024
13 Edwill van der Merwe 11 5 25 10/12/2022 04/04/2025
14 André Warner 4 10/12/2022 22/01/2023
15 Sango Xamlashe 1 10/12/2022 10/12/2022
16 Asenathi Ntlabakanye 12 1 5 10/12/2022 04/04/2025
17 Jordan Hendrikse 7 1 8 17 72 10/12/2022 06/04/2024
18 JP Smith 8 1 5 10/12/2022 21/01/2024
19 Ruan Venter 7 4 20 10/12/2022 04/04/2025
20 Sanele Nohamba 8 2 13 3 45 10/12/2022 11/01/2025
21 Jaco Visagie 12 3 15 10/12/2022 04/04/2025
22 Rynhardt Jonker 11 10/12/2022 04/04/2025
23 Sibusiso Sangweni 2 10/12/2022 16/12/2022
24 Willem Alberts 7 16/12/2022 06/04/2024
25 Quan Horn 10 4 20 16/12/2022 04/04/2025
26 Pieter Jansen van Vuren 2 16/12/2022 22/01/2023
27 Marius Louw 11 5 25 16/12/2022 04/04/2025
28 Henco van Wyk 5 16/12/2022 18/01/2025
29 Ruan Smith 7 1 5 16/12/2022 06/04/2024
30 Michael van Vuuren 3 16/12/2022 22/01/2023
31 Morné van den Berg 10 2 10 14/01/2023 04/04/2025
32 Emile van Heerden 2 14/01/2023 22/01/2023
33 Rhynardt Rijnsburger 3 14/01/2023 08/04/2023
34 Ruhan Straeuli 5 14/01/2023 11/01/2025
35 JC Pretorius 12 1 5 14/01/2023 04/04/2025
36 Morgan Naudé 8 22/01/2023 11/01/2025
37 Francke Horn 9 3 15 01/04/2023 04/04/2025
38 Mannie Rass 6 1 5 01/04/2023 04/04/2025
39 Morné Brandon 5 1 5 01/04/2023 06/04/2024
40 Travis Gordon 3 01/04/2023 10/12/2023
41 Ruan Delport 6 08/04/2023 18/01/2025
42 Erich Cronjé 7 1 5 10/12/2023 11/01/2025
43 Corné Fourie 2 10/12/2023 13/01/2024
44 Boldwin Hansen 2 10/12/2023 13/01/2024
45 Etienne Oosthuizen 5 10/12/2023 18/01/2025
46 Raynard Roets 3 10/12/2023 13/01/2024
47 Hanru Sirgel 4 10/12/2023 06/04/2024
48 Nico Steyn 8 1 2 10/12/2023 04/04/2025
49 Conraad van Vuuren 5 10/12/2023 11/01/2025
50 Izan Esterhuizen 7 10/12/2023 04/04/2025
51 Johan Mulder 2 10/12/2023 13/01/2024
52 Richard Kriel 4 15/12/2023 04/04/2025
53 Stean Pienaar 2 13/01/2024 06/04/2024
54 Kade Wolhuter 2 1 4 11 21/01/2024 14/12/2024
55 Sam Francis 4 1 5 1 18 08/12/2024 18/01/2025
56 Tapiwa Mafura 3 1 5 08/12/2024 18/01/2025
57 Franco Marais 2 1 5 08/12/2024 04/04/2025
58 WJ Steenkamp 3 08/12/2024 11/01/2025
59 SJ Kotze 4 08/12/2024 04/04/2025
60 RF Schoeman 4 08/12/2024 04/04/2025
61 Renzo du Plessis 1 08/12/2024 08/12/2024
62 Jarod Cairns 3 14/12/2024 04/04/2025
63 Juan Schoeman 4 1 5 14/12/2024 04/04/2025
64 Kelly Mpeku 1 11/01/2025 11/01/2025
65 Sibabalo Qoma 1 04/04/2025 04/04/2025

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.