The Season, Start to Finish

September 2025 — The Lions open their fifth United Rugby Championship campaign on the road in Europe. Three matches, three defeats, including a first loss to Zebre in the club's history. Ivan van Rooyen's side come home with nothing but questions.

October 2025 — Ellis Park answers them. The Scarlets are beaten 29-18 on 18 October and the tone of the season changes. What follows is the most sustained run of home form the Lions have produced in the URC era.

November and December 2025 — The fortress holds. Glasgow Warriors are dismantled 54-12 and Edinburgh 54-17, two of the heaviest defeats either Scottish club suffers all season. Ulster and Connacht are beaten in Johannesburg. The log position climbs.

January and February 2026 — The South African derbies arrive and the Lions meet them. The Sharks are beaten 34-22 with a bonus point in the rescheduled Round 8 fixture at Ellis Park on 21 February.

Round 12 — The Stormers come to Doornfontein with the South African Shield still live. The Lions win 24-10, lead 14-0 inside twenty minutes through Siba Mahashe and Henco van Wyk, and take the Shield for the first time in the club's history.

March to May 2026 — The Challenge Cup pool campaign ends in Perpignan, a winner-takes-all match the Lions lead 20-10 entering the final quarter and draw. Eliminated on points, but the URC work is done: a place in the top eight is secured.

June 2026 — A quarter-final in Dublin against Leinster, the eventual champions. The Lions lose, but they have gone further in the URC than at any point since joining the competition.

August and September 2026 — The Currie Cup. Fourth in the league phase, a 52-29 win over the Pumas at Ellis Park, and a semi-final in Kimberley that gets away from them. In between, the All Blacks come to Ellis Park on 25 August.

The 2026/27 season begins on 26 September 2026, with Leinster at Ellis Park and a maiden Investec Champions Cup campaign to follow.