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

The most appearances is by Petrus Grobbelaar (94).
The most points scored is by Andre Pretorius (661).
The most tries scored is by Jaque Fourie (24).

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.

In 2017 they play 7 home games against the Waratahs, Reds, Sharks, Jaguares, Bulls, Kings & Sunwolves. They will play 8 away games against the Cheetahs, Jaguares, Kings, Stormers, Western Force, Rebels, Brumbies & Sharks.

The head coach is Johannes (Johan) Ackermann. The assistant coaches are Swys de Bruin & J P Ferreira.

Previous head coaches included Kitch Christie, Eugene Eloff, Rudi Joubert, Piet Kleynhans, Tim Lane, Frans Ludeke, Laurie Mains, Andre Markgraaf, John Mitchell, Ray Mordt, Dick Muir, Matt Sexton & Chester Williams.

In 21 years they have (between the 3 teams) 14 Coaches & used 202 players.

The 2017 captain is Warren Whiteley.
The squad is: Justin Ackerman, Ruan Ackermann, Fabian Booysen, Cyle Brink, Andries Coetzee, Robbie Coetzee, Ruan Combrinck, Ross Cronje, Francois de Klerk, Haejivah Deyimani, Ruan Dreyer, Lourens Erasmus, Andries Ferreira, Corne Fourie, Rohan Janse van Rensburg, Elton Jantjies, Johannes Jonker, Jaco Kriel, Robert Kruger, Lionel Mapoe, Malcolm Marx, Howard Mnisi, Franco Mostert, Marvin Orie, Shaun Reynolds, Sti Sithole, Courtnall Skosan, Dillon Smit, Albertus Smith, Dylan Smith, Armond Van der Merwe, Jaco van der Walt, Jacques van Rooyen, Anthony Volmink, Harold Vorster.

The Lions finished in 2nd position at the end of the 2016 round-robin stages, losing the final to the Hurricanes.

The Lions have finished in the top 6 of the round-robin stages of the Super competition four times out of 21 years. Their worst finishes were last in 1998, 2003, 2004, 2008, 2010, 2012 & 2013.

In the play-offs they have featured in one final in 2016.

Their average finishing position is 10.57

They are 5th on the New Zealand TAB fixed odds to win the competition @ NZ$7.50.
On Centre Bet (Aus) they are picked 5th @ A$7.50.

Testimonial

Just wanted to drop you a line to say that Trevor Howard from New Zealand Rugby has advised me/us (fellow REO’s) of your website. I have had the chance to go through it and must say that you have done an outstanding job in collating and publishing this information. I have, in turn, shared it with all my referees in my regions (for which there are a number of referees in your data base) and I have nothing but praise and complements for what you have done.

Often referees (and players) simply drop off the system and the only records are in books and word of mouth (especially the less known personnel) but for them (and me), to search through and find our names and details of our 1st class accomplishment is very flattering and a sense of pride is established as we show our children or colleagues/friends of years gone by. Of course this is helped by the ease of access (as opposed to searching through books and magazines).

Thanks again for your efforts (for which I can only imagine are enormous) and I hope you continue to enter the details and expand your website.

John Dustow (JD)
Referee Education Officer (REO)
Counties Manukau Rugby Football Union/Thames Valley Rugby Football Union.

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