The Lions are currently in a strong position in the United Rugby Championship (URC), sitting fourth on the log with 18 points. After a solid start to their campaign, they are looking to regroup and recharge during the November internationals break before diving back into the competition.
With all South African teams having a game in hand over the rest of the sides due to delayed fixtures, the Lions have shown great form from their Currie Cup success, winning four games before facing a tough loss to Leinster. Coach Ivan van Rooyen sees the break as an opportunity to give his players a well-deserved rest, with some getting two weeks off and others three weeks.
Van Rooyen acknowledges the importance of balancing momentum with the need for rest in a long season. The break will allow the team to refresh both physically and mentally, as well as work on new strategies before facing Munster in their next URC fixture.
Looking ahead to December, the Lions will also be competing in the Champions and Challenge Cup competitions. They will face Ospreys and Section Paloise in the Challenge Cup before taking on the Stormers in the URC. These fixtures will be crucial in maintaining their position in the top half of the table.
The Lions’ upcoming schedule includes a match against Munster on November 30, followed by Challenge Cup games against Ospreys and Section Paloise on December 8 and 14 respectively. They will then close out the year with a URC clash against the Stormers on December 21.
Overall, the Lions are in a good position heading into the break and will be looking to carry their momentum forward as they face tough opposition in the coming weeks.
