Lions lock down Delight leaders

The Lions introduced that six core gamers have put pen to paper on contract extensions, regardless of the departure of fashionable forwards coach Albert van den Berg.

Tighthead prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye, hooker PJ Botha, lock Reinhardt Nothnagel, No 8 Francke Horn joined veteran entrance ranker JP Smith and promising exterior centre Henco van Wyk in extending their stays in Johannesburg.

Ntlabakanye, Botha, Horn and Nothnagel had been core members of the scrum that helped push the Lions to a ninth-place end within the Vodacom United Rugby Championship, in addition to a Problem Cup quarter-final.

Van Wyk is seen as one of the crucial promising centres within the nation and began the season in distinctive type earlier than a meniscus tear in February introduced his season to an finish.

The announcement of the contract extensions come shortly after it was confirmed that forwards coach Van den Berg has rejected a brand new contract and can be leaving Ellis Park.

The previous Springbok lock was reportedly a very fashionable member of the Lions teaching employees, however has opted to additional his teaching profession elsewhere, with a proposal from Europe reported to be on the desk for him.

Photograph: Steve Haag/INPHO/Shutterstock/BackpagePix