Lions: Cash out, cash in?

While Cash van Rooyen’s future as head coach is uncertain, the Lions are reportedly primed to feast with a new sponsor.

According to Rapport, Lions fans will have clarity on the head coaching role next week following a stocktake of a 2024-25 season that ended with the Pride eight points outside the playoffs in 11^th place.

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One potential outcome of the post-season evaluation is that Van Rooyen is shifted to a director of rugby role and the head coach vacancy is filled by one of Mzwakhe Nkosi or Julian Redelinghuys.

Nkosi coached the Lions to last year’s Currie Cup final and has served in that role since 2018, while former Springbok tighthead Redelinghuys is the Lions scrum coach.

The Lions have bid farewell to Springbok finisher Edwill van der Merwe, who will add firepower to an A-list Sharks backline next season.

Traditionally a team of overachievers, the Lions’ fourth-place finish in the SA Shield reflects the quality of their roster. Cash van Rooyen may not be the future but an injection of the cash required to acquire and retain star players and coaches is key to the Lions achieving the goal of a URC playoff debut next season.

Rapport suggests the Lions are close to signing “the largest sponsorship deal” among South Africa’s four URC teams, a development that could arm the club with the resources to get back in the hunt next season.

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