Lions - (formerly Cats, Kings) - a brief rugby history

Colours: Jersey: Red & White Shorts: Black Socks: Black with Red & White stripes
Home Ground: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Chairman:
CEO: Rudolf Straeuli

Website: www.lionsrugby.co.za

View/Download

Games Results 1996 - 2019 (PDF) Updated 20/6/19

Overall Statistical Results 1996 - 2019 (PDF) Updated 20/6/19

Lions v's all other Super teams (PDF) New 21/6/19

The Lions were formed in 1998. Until 2007 they were called the Cats. For the first two years of the Super 12/14 competition the franchise was represented by the Currie Cup team Gauteng Lions (Transvaal). The current franchise represents the South African Rugby Regions of Johannesburg, North West & Mpumalanga. In 2013 the Southern Kings won the right to play in the competition. They lost this right by local promotion/relegation to the Lions for 2014.

The 2019 head coach is Swys (Neil) de Bruin. The assistant coaches are Philip Lemmer & Joey Mongolo.

The 2019 squad is:

Forwards: Jacobie Adriaanse; Cyle Brink; Jan-Henning Campher; Robbie Coetzee; Haejivah Dayimani; Lourens Erasmus; Rhyno Herbst; Pieter Jansen; Johannes Jonker; Robert Kruger; Stephan Lewies; Len Massyn; Malcolm Marx; Nathan McBeth; Danie Mienie; Reinhard Nothnagel; Marvin Orie; Carlu Sadie; Marnus Schoeman; Sti Sithole; Albertus (Kwagga) Smith; Dylan Smith; Vincent Tshituka; Wilhelm van der Sluys; Frans van Wyk; Ruan Vermaak; Warren Whiteley (C).

Backs:Andries Coetzee; Ruan Combrinck; Ross Cronje; Ahhiwe Dyanti; Tyrone Green; Nic Groom; Elton Jantjies; Gianni Lombard; Sylvian Mahuza; Lionel Mapoe; Franco Naude; Shaun Reynolds; Wandisile Similane; Courtnall Skosan; Dillon Smit; Madosh Tambwe; James Venter; Harold Vorster.

They play 8 Home games against: Bulls; Jaquares; Rebels; Sharks; Waratahs; Highlanders; Stormers; Hurricanes.

They play 8 Away games against: Jaquares; Stormers; Sunwolves; Brumbies; Chiefs; Crusaders; Sharks; Bulls.

The Lions finished in 2nd position at the end of the 2018 round-robin stages, losing the final to the Crusaders.

The Lions have finished in the top 6 of the round-robin stages of the Super competition six times out of 22 years.

In the play-offs they have featured in three finals in 2016, 2017 & 2018.

Their average finishing position is 9.55

They are 5th= on the New Zealand TAB fixed odds to win the competition @ NZ$23.00

Endorsements

I have seen the development of the website http://www.rugbyhistory.co.nz/ over the past 12 months and genuinely believe it has the potential to become the online portal for rugby history and statistics in New Zealand. Outside of the Rugby Almanack there is nowhere that rugby followers can go to gain such information, and there is certainly nowhere online that comes close to the level of detail that Kerry’s website provides.

With a bit of support I think http://www.rugbyhistory.co.nz/ can become the most comprehensive rugby database in the country, and in the process protect the legacy of our national game.

Hamish Forsman
Waikato Rugby Union Media Executive & Historian

Kerry
Firstly, this is an awesome website – love all the work you’ve done. It’s a real bonus especially to those of us who never collected Rugby Almanack etc.
So awesome to see my own name in there – but you’ve missed one NZU game – I played 3 – Full 80’s against Scotland & Uruguay and as a replacement vs France in the semi final.
Every game counts when we’re old, lol!
Cheers
Pat J Stevens

Thanks for this great work. I hope you can soon raise the funding you need to expand these rugby records.

Hi, Kerry,
Your rugbyhistory website is amazing! I don't think there is a more complete source of rugby information in the world, not just on the internet. I've recommended it to several of my rugby-mad mates, who all return with glowing reviews. Have you ever thought of joining the National Rugby Museum in Palmerston North?
If I were to make a suggestion, I would like to see the match dates & venues alongside each result. It might settle a few debates on whether X fixture was on the 18th or 19th of September 1982, for instance, or whether Team Y has played in Town Z etc. If it's too much of a hassle, don't worry about it; you've already put truckloads of work into the site already!
Thanks, Samuel

Kerry - great website on rugby - just a comment your player information for Ken J Tarrant (brother) South Canterbury is incorrect. It says he played 29 games I think you will find it was around 69 from early 70s to late 70s.
Steve Tarrant
(170 games over 14 seasons for Sth Canterbury & Southland)

Kerry's note: Thanks Steve, this will be corrected once I go back earlier than 1975.

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Testimonial

With a bit of support I think http://www.rugbyhistory.co.nz/ can become the most comprehensive rugby database in the country, and in the process protect the legacy of our national game.

Hamish Forsman
Waikato Rugby Union Media Executive & Historian

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Lions - (formerly Cats, Kings) - a brief rugby history