Springbok Boan Venter and fellow newcomer Boeta Chamberlain have been named in the Lions’ run-on XV for Saturday’s URC round-one clash against Leinster at Ellis Park.
Head coach Ivan van Rooyen has also handed URC debuts to scrumhalf Zian Cilliers and centre Ethan Adams, both included in a 6-2 forward-heavy bench split.
The versatile Chamberlain, who joined the Pride from the Newcastle Red Bulls this season, lines up in a back three with wingers Erich Cronje and Kelly Mpeku.
Former Edinburgh prop Venter joins hooker PJ Botha and tighthead Sebastian Lombard in the front row, with locks Ruan Delport and Etienne Oosthuizen slotting in behind them.
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Skipper and No 8 Francke Horn will pack down alongside the powerful and exciting Batho Hlekani and Siba Mahashe to complete the pack.
Nico Steyn and Chris Smith form the halfback pairing while Henco van Wyk and Richard Kriel are partnered in the midfield.
The Lions will be keen to start their new URC campaign with a bang after they reached the URC playoffs for the first time last season.
Van Rooyen’s men could hardly have asked for a tougher start against a star-studded Leinster side that lifted the trophy in the last two seasons, eliminating the Lions in the 2025-26 quarter-finals.
Leinster have struggled in South Africa though, winning just one of their last eight matches in the Republic, against the Sharks in March 2025 – while the Lions won this corresponding fixture in April 2024 by 44-12.
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LIONS – 15 Boeta Chamberlain, 14 Kelly Mpeku, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Richard Kriel, 11 Erich Cronjé, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Nico Steyn, 8 Francke Horn (c), 7 Batho Hlekani, 6 Siba Mahashe, 5 Ruan Delport, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 Sebastian Lombard, 2 PJ Botha, 1 Boan Venter.
Bench: 16 Morné Brandon, 17 SJ Kotze, 18 RF Schoeman, 19 Hyron Andrews, 20 JC Pretorius, 21 Siba Qoma, 22 Zian Cilliers, 23 Ethan Adams.
Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images
The post Boan, Boeta start in Lions URC opener appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Springbok Boan Venter and fellow newcomer Boeta Chamberlain have been named in the Lions’ run-on XV for Saturday’s URC round-one clash against Leinster at Ellis Park.
The post Boan, Boeta start in Lions URC opener appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
