Lions stars out of Challenge Cup opener
12/03/2024 10:56 PM
The Lions are set to roar into the 2024-25 Challenge Cup against Ospreys in Swansea on Sunday without a host of stalwarts.
As South Africa’s contenders crack their knuckles on the eve of the third European cup campaigns featuring teams from the Republic, the Lions appear to have put their growing experience of the competition into practice, redeploying a group of players with an eye on the round 2 match against Top 14 battlers Pau at Ellis Park next week.
MORE: Lions brace for Ospreys scrum battle
Wing Edwill van der Merwe, fullback Quan Horn, centre Henco van Wyk, tighthead prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye, hooker PJ Botha and lock Reinhard Nothnagel have been named among a larger contingent of Lions players who have returned to South Africa this week, following the 17-10 reverse against Munster in Limerick on Saturday.
The group includes flyhalf Kade Wolhuter (concussed) whose 37 points places him sixth among the URC’s top points scorers this season.
"Around 12 guys have been sent home,” said scrum coach Julian Redelinghuys said on Tuesday. "We are playing on Sunday so the turnaround time is quick in this competition, it's a good idea for us to get some guys back home and prepare for (next week's) home game against Pau. We are really excited to see the other players in the squad getting an opportunity to play this weekend and show us their quality."
Photo: Christiaan Kotze/Gallo Images
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