2024–25 Lions (United Rugby Championship) season

Lions
UnionSouth African Rugby Union
Emblem(s)Lion
Founded1889 (Transvaal Rugby Union)
1996 (Lions franchise)
LocationJohannesburg, South Africa
Ground(s)Emirates Airline Park (Capacity: 62,567)
Coach(es)Ivan van Rooyen
Captain(s)Marius Louw
League(s)United Rugby Championship
1st kit
2nd kit
3rd kit
Official website
lionsrugby.co.za

The 2024–25 season is the Lions' fourth season in the United Rugby Championship, their 29th season of professional rugby and their 135th season of representative rugby since the foundation of their provincial union, the Transvaal Rugby Union. Along with competing in the URC and its South African Shield competition, the club will also participate in the 2024-25 European Rugby Challenge Cup.

Senior squad

For player movements before or during the 2024–25 season, see List of 2024–25 United Rugby Championship transfers § Lions.

The Lions squad for the 2024–25 United Rugby Championship is.

Lions United Rugby Championship squad

Props

Hookers

Locks

Loose forwards

Scrum-halves

Fly-halves

Centres

Wingers

Fullbacks

(c) Denotes team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped, ST denotes a short-term signing.

Results

United Rugby Championship

Main URC standings

Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts Qualification
1 Leinster 18 16 0 2 542 256 +286 79 35 11 1 76 Qualifies for home URC quarter-final;
Qualification for the 2025–26 Champions Cup
2 Bulls 18 14 0 4 542 361 +181 71 44 9 3 68
3 Sharks 18 13 0 5 436 402 +34 55 59 7 3 62
4 Glasgow Warriors 18 11 0 7 468 327 +141 70 40 10 5 59
5 Stormers 18 10 0 8 507 418 +89 66 57 11 4 55 Qualifies for URC quarter-final;
Qualification for the 2025–26 Champions Cup
6 Munster 18 9 0 9 444 429 +15 67 59 11 4 51
7 Edinburgh 18 8 1 9 471 407 +64 66 57 9 6 49
8 Scarlets 18 9 1 8 427 382 +45 50 52 6 4 48
9 Cardiff 18 8 1 9 409 477 −68 63 65 10 3 47 Qualification for the 2025–26 Challenge Cup
10 Benetton 18 9 1 8 393 478 −85 50 65 7 1 46
11 Lions 18 8 0 10 402 440 −38 53 60 5 3 40
12 Ospreys 18 7 1 10 437 454 −17 60 63 6 4 40
13 Connacht 18 6 0 12 420 472 −52 64 62 9 6 39
14 Ulster 18 7 0 11 414 506 −92 59 72 5 5 38
15 Zebre Parma 18 5 1 12 302 503 −201 38 72 3 4 29
16 Dragons 18 1 0 17 335 637 −302 43 92 1 4 9
Source: UnitedRugby.com
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers for teams tied on points: 1) Number of matches won 2) The difference between points for and points against 3) The number of tries scored 4) The most points scored 5) The difference between tries for and tries against 6) The fewest red cards received 7) The fewest yellow cards received.[1]


Round 1

8 Match 2025 (rearranged) (1 BP) Sharks 25–22 Lions Hollywoodbets Kings Park  
Try: Williams
Kolisi (2)
Hatton
Con: Hendrikse
Pen: Hendrikse
 Report Try: Mafura
Kriel
Marais
Con: Lombard (2)
Pen: Lombard
 Attendance: 15,165

Round 2

28 September 2024
12:55
(1 BP) Lions 35–22 Ulster (1 BP)
Try: Maxwane 10' m
F. Horn 34' c
Marais 46' m
van Wyk 49' c
Wolhuter 79' m
Con: Wolhuter (2/4) 35', 51'
Pen: Wolhuter (2/2) 14', 57'		Try: Cooney 40+3' m
Morgan 42' m
Kok 59' m
Barrett 77' c
Con: Doak (1/2) 78'
Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg
Attendance: 2,194
Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)

Round 3

5 October 2024
13:45
(1 BP) Lions 55–21 Edinburgh
Try: Q. Horn 5' m
Maxwane (3) 12' c, 31' c, 71' c
van der Merwe (2) 20' c, 39' c
Jonker 26' c
F. Horn 35' m
Con: Wolhuter (4/5) 13', 21', 27', 31'
Nohamba (2/3) 40', 73'
Pen: Wolhuter (1/1) 2'		Try: Gilchrist 44' c
Harrison 50' c
Muncaster 66' c
Con: Healy (2/2) 44', 51'
Ross Thompson (1/1) 67'
Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg
Attendance: 3,542
Referee: Adam Jones (Wales)

Round 4

13 October 2024
14:30
(1 BP) Dragons 19–23 Lions
Try: Keddie 14' c
Basham (2) 24' m, 42' c
Con: Evans (2/3) 15', 43'		Try: Q. Horn 10' c
Cairns 51' c
Con: Steyn (1/1) 11'
Nohamba (1/1) 52'
Pen: Steyn (2/2) 28', 40+1'
Nohamba (1/1) 49'
Rodney Parade, Newport
Attendance: 4 237 [2]
Referee: Fillipo Russo (Italy)

Round 5

19 October 2024
13:30
(1 BP) Zebre Parma 9–10 Lions
Try: Montemauri (3/4) 14', 21', 46'Try: van der Merwe 27' c
Con: Nohamba (1/1) 28'
Pen: Nohamba (1/2) 42'
Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma
Attendance: 1,187[3]
Referee: Ben Connor, Wales

Round 6

26 October 2024
17:15
Leinster 24–6 Lions
Try: van der Flier 31' c
Doris 57' c
Penalty try 80'+1
Con: Prendergast (2/2) 32', 58'
Pen: Prendergast 2'		Pen: Wolhuter (2) 12', 17'
Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Attendance: 20,945[4]
Referee: Craig Evans, Wales

Round 7

30 November 2024
19:35
Munster 17–10 Lions (1 BP)
Try: Abrahams 15' c
S. Daly 42' m
Kendellen 53' m
Con: Burns (1/3) 16'		Try: van Wyk 27' c
Con: Wolhuter (1/1) 28'
Pen: Wolhuter 32'
Thomond Park, Limerick
Attendance: 11,836[5]
Referee: Adam Jones (Wales)

Round 8

21 December 2024
15:45
(1 BP) Stormers 29–10 Lions
Try: Dweba 12' m
Hartzenberg 24' m
Dweba 33' m
Zas 47' c
Fouché 75' c
Con: Libbok (2/5) 48', 76'		ReportTry: van der Merwe 43' m
Marais 63' m
Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town
Attendance: 22,410[6]

Round 9

22 February 2025
14:00
Bulls 31-19 Lions
Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria
Attendance: 17,501

Round 10

25 January 2025
14:45
Lions 22–35 Bulls
Try: van Wyk 33' m
Oosthuizen 61' m
Pen: Francis (4) 19', 28', 46', 52'		Try: Kriel 15' c
Wiese 54' c
Coetzee 65' c
van der Merwe 69' m
Con: Chamberlain 15'
Kriel (2/3) 54', 66'
Pen: Chamberlain (2) 9', 50'
Kriel 58'
Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg
Attendance: 19 881
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen

Round 11

15 February 2025 Lions 30–23 Stormers (1 BP) Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg  
14:30 Try: van den Berg 19' c
van Wyk 22' c
Louw 34' c
Con: Lombard (3/3) 20', 23', 35'
Pen: Lombard (3/3) 14', 47', 59'
 Report Try: Gelant 44'c
Roos 69'c
Con: Matthee (2/2) 45', 70'
Pen: Matthee (3/3) 17', 31', 81'

Round 12

1 March 2025 (1 BP) Lions 38–14 Sharks Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg  
14:30 Try: Botha 6' c
F. Horn 14' c
van der Merwe 37' m
Kriel 41' m
Cairns 59' c
Lombard 70' c
Con: Lombard (3/5) 7', 15', 60'
Steyn (1/1) 71'
 Report Try: Hooker 77' c
Kolisi 80' c
Con: Jo. Hendrikse (2/2) 78', 80'
 Attendance: 11,542

Round 13

21 March 2025 Cardiff 20 – 17 Lions (1 BP) Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff  
19:35 Try: Donnell, 20'c
Millard, 63'c
Con: Sheedy (2)
Pen: Sheedy, 31', 50'
 Report Try: Ntlabakanye, 11'c
Horn, 57'c
Con: Lombard (2)
Pen: Lombard, 44'
 Attendance: 6,235[7]
Referee: Federico Vedovelli

Round 14

29 March 2025 (1 BP) Glasgow Warriors 42 - 0 Lions Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow  
19:35 Try: McBeth, 6'
Dobie, 18', 26'
Horne, 30'
Hastings, 38'
Stewart, 44'
Con: Hasting, 7', 19', 27', 31', 39', 44'
 Report:ESPN Attendance: 6,629[8]

Round 15

19 April 2025 (1 BP) Lions 31 - 42 Benetton (1 BP) Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg  
13:45 Try: Venter, 27'
Louw, 41'
E. v.d. Merwe, 61'
Prestorius, 77'
Con: Wolhuter, 28', 42', 62', 77'
Pen: Wolhuter, 6'
 Report Try: Umaga, 7'
Mendy, 13', 38'
Marin, 23'
Ruzza, 44'
Con: Umaga, 8', 24', 39', 44'
Pen: Umaga, 18', 35', 65'
 Attendance: not given
Referee: Craig Evans

Round 16

26 April 2025 Lions 26 – 7 Connacht Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg  
16:00 Try: du Plessis, 14'
Pretorius, 70'
v.d. Merwe, 83'
Con: Dobela, 84
Pen: Wolhuter, 19', 37', 43'
 Report, 2 Try: de Buitlear, 74'
Con: Hawkshaw, 74
 Attendance: 3,454
Referee: Hollie Davidson

Round 17

11 May 2025 Lions 19–32 Scarlets (1 BP) Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg  
15:00 Attendance: 2,522

Round 18

17 May 2025 (1 BP) Lions 29–28 Ospreys (2 BP) Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg  
17:15 Try: Van der Merwe 10'
Visagie 31', 54'
Van Wyk 71'
Dobela 82'
Con: Dobela, 32', 72'
 Report Try: Griffiths 11'
Ratti 52'
Walsh 62'
Parry 78'
Con: Edwards 12', 53', 63', 79'
 Attendance: 3,494

Lions have been eliminated from the Championship.

URC South African Shield

2024–25 United Rugby Championship Regional Shield Pools
South African Shield
Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TBP LBP Pts Pos overall
1 Sharks (S) 6 4 0 2 129 135 −6 17 20 2 1 19 3
2 Stormers 6 3 0 3 142 130 +12 19 15 3 3 18 5
3 Bulls 6 3 0 3 151 141 +10 19 17 3 2 17 2
4 Lions 6 2 0 4 141 157 −16 19 22 1 1 10 11
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:[9]
  1. number of matches won
  2. the difference between points for and points against
  3. the number of tries scored
  4. the most points scored
  5. the difference between tries for and tries against
  6. the fewest red cards received
  7. the fewest yellow cards received
Green background indicates teams currently leading the regional shield. Upon the conclusion of the regular season, these teams win their respective regional shields.

(S) : URC Shield champion


European Challenge Cup

Pool table

EPCR Challenge Cup Pool 2
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts Qualification
1 Montpellier (2) 4 4 0 0 131 41 +90 19 6 3 0 19 Home round of 16
2 Ospreys (4) 4 3 0 1 111 116 −5 16 17 3 0 15
3 Pau (7) 4 2 0 2 119 108 +11 10 10 3 1 12
4 Lions (14) 4 2 0 2 122 103 +19 18 13 2 0 10 Away round of 16
5 Dragons 4 1 0 3 61 116 −55 8 15 0 1 5
6 Newcastle Falcons 4 0 0 4 55 115 −60 8 16 0 0 0
Source: EPCR[10]
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers for teams tied on points: 1) Number of matches won; 2) Difference between points for and against; 3) Total number of points for; 4) Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams; 5) Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled.

Pool matches

Round 1

8 December 2024 (1 BP) Ospreys 30–14 Lions Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli[a]  
15:15 Try: Morgan 27' c
Giles 44' m
Hardy 47' c
Edwards 78' m
Con: O. Williams (2/4) 28', 48'
Pen: O. Williams (2/2) 21', 35'
 Report Try: Marais 10' c
Cronjé 75' c
Con: Francis (1/1) 11'
Nohamba (1/1) 76'
 Attendance: 2,877
Referee: Kevin Bralley (France)

Round 2

14 December 2024 (1 BP) Lions 43–35 Pau (1 BP) Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg  
17:15 Try: van der Merwe 12' c
van den Berg 20' c
Botha 40' m
Penalty try 49'
J. Schoeman 53' c
R. Schoeman 61' c
Con: Wolhuter (4/5) 13', 21', 54', 62'
Pen: Wolhuter (1/1) 70'
 Report Try: Jooste 9' c
Desperes 44' c
Ruffenach 63' m
Bouhier 75' c
Con: Desperes (3/4) 10', 45', 76'
Pen: Desperes (3/3) 16', 24', 38'
 Attendance: 2,042
Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe (England)

Round 3

11 January 2025 (1 BP) Montpellier 28–5 Lions GGL Stadium, Montpellier  
18:30 Try: Tauleigne 2' c
Bernadet (2) 53' c, 60' c
Simmonds 71' c
Con: Vincent (3/3) 3', 55', 61'
Barreau (1/1) 72'
 Report Try: Horn 46' m
 Attendance: 7,500
Referee: Ben Breakspear (Wales)

Round 4

18 January 2025 (1 BP) Lions 60–10 Dragons Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg  
17:15 Try: Horn (2) 8' c, 48' m
Francis 15' c
Venter (2) 22' c, 65' c
Mafura 26' c
Lombard 56' m
Visagie 61' m
Rass 80' c
Con: Francis (4/4) 9', 16', 23', 27'
Lombard (2/5) 66', 80'
Pen: Francis (1/1) 3'
 Report Try: Latu 53' c
Con: Reed (1/1) 54'
Pen: Reed (1/2) 7'
 Attendance: 2,562
Referee: Evan Urruzmendi (France)

Knockout rounds

Round of 16 Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
            
3 Edinburgh 24
14 Lions 12
3 Edinburgh 34
11 Bulls 28
6 Bayonne 22
11 Bulls 32
3 Edinburgh 24
10 Bath Rugby 39
7 Pau 24
10 Bath Rugby 49
10 Bath Rugby 61
15 Gloucester 26
2 Montpellier 17
15 Gloucester 24
10 Bath Rugby 37
5 Lyon 12
4 Ospreys 36
13 Scarlets 14
4 Ospreys 18
5 Lyon 20
5 Lyon 34
12 Sharks 21
5 Lyon 29
9 Racing 92 15
1 Connacht 35
16 Cardiff 20
1 Connacht 40
9 Racing 92 43
8 Perpignan 18
9 Racing 92 24


Round of 16

Lions finished fourth in their group, and were awarded the fourteenth seeding for the knockout rounds. In the Round of 16 they were drawn away to Edinburgh. The Lions had resoundingly beaten the Scottish team at home earlier in the United Rugby Championship. In the tie, Edinburgh returned the favour, eliminating the Lions from the competition.

4 April 2025
20:00
Edinburgh (3)24 - 12(14) Lions
Try: Goosen, 1’
Vellacott, 9’
Ritchie, 28’c
Price, 71’c
Con: Thompson, 29', 72'		Report:EPRCTry: Horn 46’
Visagie, 75’c
Con: Steyn, 76'
Edinburgh Rugby Stadium, Edinburgh
Attendance: 5,407
Referee: Ludovic Cayre (France)

Home attendance

As of 14 February 2025

Domestic League European Champions Cup Total
League Fixtures Total Attendance Average Attendance Highest Lowest League Fixtures Total Attendance Average Attendance Highest Lowest Total Attendance Average Attendance
2024–25 United Rugby Championship 9 60,288 6,699 19,981 2,194 2024–25 European Rugby Champions Cup 2 4,604 2,302 2,562 2,042 64,892 5,899

Notes

  1. ^ The match between Ospreys and Lions was relocated to Parc y Scarlets, due to structural damages at the Swansea.com Stadium caused by Storm Darragh.[11]

References

  1. ^ "Competition rules – United Rugby Championship". United Rugby Championship. Archived from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
  2. ^ [1], 14 Oct 2024
  3. ^ "Nel Diluvio del Lanfranchi Le Zebre Cadono 9-10 e Prendono un Punto Di Bonus", Zebre Parma, 19 October
  4. ^ "No try bonus this time but Leinster make it six URC wins from six", Irish Examiner, 26 October
  5. ^ "Munster Rugby Fixtures & Results"
  6. ^ "SA sides help URC break records". SA Rugby magazine. 2024-12-27. Retrieved 2025-02-19.
  7. ^ "Cardiff 20-17 Lions". Cardiff Rugby. 2025-03-21. Retrieved 2025-03-22.
  8. ^ Correspondent, Mark Palmer, Scottish Rugby (2025-03-30). "Glasgow Warriors make short work of stunned Lions in first-half blitz". www.thetimes.com. Retrieved 2025-03-30. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. ^ League Format (3) "Competition Rules". United Rugby Championship. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  10. ^ "Pool Tables | EPCR Challenge Cup". European Professional Club Rugby. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  11. ^ "Morgan leads Ospreys against Lions as game switched to Parc y Scarlets". BBC Sport. 6 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
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