The Lions will know that they’re in for a massive test in their URC opener as they prepare to host two-time defending champions Leinster in Johannesburg.

Ivan van Rooyen’s side could hardly have asked for a tougher start though, against a star-studded Leinster side who lifted the trophy in the last two seasons, eliminating the Lions in the 2025 quarter-finals along the way.

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.

The SA Shield holders have, in the off season bolstered their stocks with the likes of Springbok Boan Venter, Boeta Chamberlain and Hyron Adams – all featuring in Ivan van Rooyen’s match 23.

Van Rooyen has also included young scrumhalf Zian Cilliers on the bench as well as schoolboy talent Ethan Adams – both in line to earn their senior international debuts come Saturday.

Looking ahead to Leinster, Ivan ‘Cash’ van Rooyen complimented the opposition’s ability to unsettle teams to suite their style of play.

“Leinster are quite good at getting the opposition to play out of the system- their superpower is to get you out of your structure, so it will be important for us to get back into momentum and re-apply the pressure.”

“Their defensive system is really good so if you are 50/50 on attack they get the upper hand so there’s a big challenge for us ahead,” he cautioned.

Kick off is at 13:30 on Saturday.

KEEP TRACK OF THE LIONS’ LIVE SCORING

HOW THE TEAMS WILL LINE UP

Lions: 15 Boeta Chamberlain 14 Kelly Mpeku 13 Henco van Wyk 12 Richard Kriel 11 Erich Cronje 10 Chris Smith 9 Nico Steyn, 8 Francke Horn (captain) 7 Batho Hlekani 6 Siba Mahashe 5 Ruan Delport 4 Etienne Oosthuizen 3 Sebastian Lombard 2 PJ Botha 1 Boan Venter
Replacements: 16 Morne Brandon, 17 SJ Kotze, 18 RF Schoeman, 19 Hyron Andrews, 20 JC Pretorius, 21 Siba Qoma, 22 Zian Cilliers, 23 Ethan Adam

Leinster: 15 Todd Lawlor, 14 Tommy O’Brien, 13 Hugh Cooney, 12 Charlie Tector, 11 Andrew Osborne, 10 Caspar Gabriel, 9 Fintan Gunne, 8 Josh Ericson, 7 Scott Penny, 6 Max Deegan (c), 5 Conor O’Tighearnaigh, 4 Ryan Baird, 3 Andrew Porter, 2 Gus McCarthy, 1 Alex Usanov
Replacements: 16 Stephen Smyth, 17 Peter Dooley, 18 Niall Smyth, 19 Brian Deeney, 20 Dylan McNeice, 21 Oliver Coffey, 22 Harry Byrne, 23 Ciarán Mangan

Lions v Leinster
Date: Saturday, 26 September 2026
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
SA Time: 13;30
Referee: Ben Breakspear
TV: SuperSpory