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 Ireland Leinster 12 12 0 0 360 166 +194 52 24 9 0 57 Play-offs &
Berth in the 2024–25 Champions Cup
2 Scotland Glasgow Warriors 12 8 0 4 353 225 +128 53 29 8 4 44
3 South Africa Bulls 12 8 0 4 316 249 +67 41 29 6 3 41
4 South Africa Sharks 11 7 0 4 288 287 +1 36 42 4 2 34
5 Ireland Munster 12 6 0 6 287 294 −7 46 41 8 1 33
6 Wales Cardiff 12 5 1 6 263 321 −58 41 44 7 2 31
7 Scotland Edinburgh 12 5 0 7 295 300 −5 41 41 5 5 30
8 Ireland Connacht 12 5 0 7 277 296 −19 42 38 6 3 29
9 South Africa Lions 11 6 0 5 258 244 +14 33 34 3 1 28 Berth in the 2024–25 Challenge Cup
10 Wales Scarlets 12 5 1 6 271 255 +16 29 36 2 4 28
11 Wales Ospreys 12 5 1 6 258 258 0 34 33 3 3 28
12 South Africa Stormers 12 5 0 7 272 293 −21 34 37 5 3 28
13 Italy Benetton 12 5 1 6 251 317 −66 31 44 5 1 28
14 Ireland Ulster 12 5 0 7 269 294 −25 39 42 3 4 27
15 Italy Zebre Parma 12 5 0 7 196 268 −72 25 38 2 3 25
16 Wales Dragons 12 1 0 11 226 374 −148 28 53 1 3 8
Updated to match(es) played on 1 March 2025. Source: [1]
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.[2]
South African Shield
2024–25 United Rugby Championship Regional Shield Pools view · watch · · discuss
South Africa South African Shield
Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TBP LBP Pts Pos overall
1 South Africa Stormers 6 3 0 3 142 130 +12 19 15 3 3 18 -
2 South Africa Bulls 6 3 0 3 151 141 +10 19 17 3 2 17 -
3 South Africa Sharks 5 3 0 2 104 113 -9 13 17 1 1 14 -
4 South Africa Lions 5 2 0 3 119 132 -13 16 18 1 0 9 -
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:[3]
  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

Round 1

8 Match 2025
Sharks South AfricavSouth Africa Lions

Round 2

28 September 2024
12:55
(1 BP) Lions South Africa35–22Ireland 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 South Africa55–21Scotland 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 Wales19–23South Africa 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 [4]
Referee: Fillipo Russo (Italy)

Round 5

19 October 2024
13:30
(1 BP) Zebre Parma Italy9–10South Africa 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[5]
Referee: Ben Connor, Wales

Round 6

26 October 2024
17:15
Leinster Ireland24–6South Africa 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[6]
Referee: Craig Evans, Wales

Round 7

30 November 2024
19:35
Munster Ireland17–10South Africa 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[7]
Referee: Adam Jones (Wales)

Round 8

21 December 2024
15:45
(1 BP) Stormers South Africa29–10South Africa 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[8]

Round 9

22 February 2025
14:00
Bulls South Africa31-19South Africa Lions
Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria
Attendance: 17,501

Round 10

25 January 2025
14:45
Lions South Africa22–35South Africa 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 South Africa 30–23 South Africa 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
14:30
Lions South AfricavSouth Africa Sharks
Kings Park Stadium, Johannesburg

Round 13

21 March 2025
19:35
Cardiff WalesvSouth Africa Lions
Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff

Round 14

29 March 2025
19:35
Glasgow Warriors ScotlandvSouth Africa Lions
Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow

Round 15

19 April 2025
13:45
Lions South AfricavItaly Benetton
Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg

Round 16

26 April 2025
16:00
Lions South AfricavIreland Connacht
Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg

Round 17

11 May 2025
15:00
Lions South AfricavWales Scarlets
Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg

Round 18

17 May 2025
17:15
Lions South AfricavWales Ospreys
Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg

European Challenge Cup

EPCR Challenge Cup Pool 2
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts Qualification
1 France Montpellier (2) 4 4 0 0 131 41 +90 19 6 3 0 19 Home round of 16
2 Wales Ospreys (4) 4 3 0 1 111 116 −5 16 17 3 0 15
3 France Pau (7) 4 2 0 2 119 108 +11 10 10 3 1 12
4 South Africa Lions (14) 4 2 0 2 122 103 +19 18 13 2 0 10 Away round of 16
5 Wales Dragons 4 1 0 3 61 116 −55 8 15 0 1 5
6 England Newcastle Falcons 4 0 0 4 55 115 −60 8 16 0 0 0
Source: EPCR[9]
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 Wales 30–14 South Africa 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 South Africa 43–35 France 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 France 28–5 South Africa 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 South Africa 60–10 Wales 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)

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.

4 April 2025 Edinburgh Scotland (3) v (14) South Africa Lions Edinburgh Rugby Stadium, Edinburgh  
20:00

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 4[11] 25,617 8,539 19,981 2,194 2024–25 European Rugby Champions Cup 2 4,604 2,302 2,562 2,042 31,221 6,244

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.[10]

References

  1. ^ "Championship Table". United Rugby Championship. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
  2. ^ "Competition rules - United Rugby Championship". United Rugby Championship. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
  3. ^ League Format (3) "Competition Rules". United Rugby Championship. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  4. ^ [1], 14 Oct 2024
  5. ^ "Nel Diluvio del Lanfranchi Le Zebre Cadono 9-10 e Prendono un Punto Di Bonus", Zebre Parma, 19 October
  6. ^ "No try bonus this time but Leinster make it six URC wins from six", Irish Examiner, 26 October
  7. ^ "Munster Rugby Fixtures & Results"
  8. ^ "SA sides help URC break records". SA Rugby magazine. 2024-12-27. Retrieved 2025-02-19.
  9. ^ "Pool Tables | EPCR Challenge Cup". European Professional Club Rugby. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  10. ^ "Morgan leads Ospreys against Lions as game switched to Parc y Scarlets". BBC Sport. 6 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  11. ^ Figures taken from three games as one attendance unrecorded.
Allikas: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024%E2%80%9325_Lions_(United_Rugby_Championship)_season
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