James Schnetler

Hoërskool Garsfontein, Pretoria

A Pretoria lock out of Garsfontein who signed for the Lions rather than the union on his doorstep. Schnetler earned a place in the SA Under-19 Academy squad for a European tour in late 2025 and was injured out of the travelling party before it left, then came back into the Under-20 touring group for Georgia in 2026. One of four players the club named as next-generation forwards for 2026/27, and one of three locks brought through the same intake with JD Hattingh and Jaythen Orange.