The Lions may be seen as the least successful of South Africa’s four Vodacom United Rugby Championship provinces, but over the past few months they have made some interesting moves to solidify and strengthen their squad for the future.
While they may not have the big guns the other franchises have, it seems they have been successful at stopping the exodus that has hampered them over the past few seasons where they lost Springboks such as Jordan Hendrikse and Edwill van der Merwe to the Sharks in particular.
While those at Ellis Park haven’t shown the same ambition as their counterparts in Cape Town, Pretoria, or Durban in signing big stars, they have managed to fight off the offers from other sides that have looked to poach their biggest talents, and have snapped up a top talent as well.
All this makes for the hope that the team can build a squad that can, for the first time, qualify for the Investec Champions Cup and top eight of the URC despite their own failings.
It isn’t being harsh in saying that the Lions have given their management team, under the leadership of Ivan van Rooyen, more time than most professional outfits would in trying to build the squad.
Van Rooyen has been in charge for six seasons and has less than a 50 per cent win record - something that would have seen change at any team before him.
But for whatever reason they have shown patience, and believe he is the right coach for them, while slowly integrating their successful under-20 team into the senior ranks and building a team that can win anywhere, but has been poor at being consistent.
That may change in the new season, with the Lions already having fought off big money offers from the Sharks and Bulls to retain their Springbok fullback Quan Horn.
Horn signed until 2028, along with fellow Bok Morne van den Berg and Ruan Venter, and in all cases the Lions for the first time opened their chequebooks a bit more to ensure that the players stayed in Johannesburg.
Possibly the bigger coup was the signing of Springbok loosehead Boan Venter, who wanted to return to South Africa after his breakthrough season with the Springboks. Venter was a surprise choice for Rassie Erasmus’ side but has established himself among the list of looseheads that Erasmus has turned to during the season and knows a return to South Africa will keep him front of mind for the selectors.
The signing at the Lions may have surprised a few people, but showed the change of intent from the Lions from their understated contracting in the past.
The latest news was the retention of promising youngster and former Junior Springbok SJ Kotze last Friday - whose mobility and work rate have been impressive for the Lions this season.
It may only be a few signings, and nowhere near some of the other franchises, but it certainly has raised some eyebrows that perhaps the Lions are finally intending to be more ambitious, and see the value in trying to keep their top talent instead of letting it leave Johannesburg for good.