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Lions bring back Van Rooyen for Currie Cup showdown with struggling Bulls
The Star
|August 29, 2025
TOMORROW’S Currie Cup encounter between the Bulls and the Lions may lack the historic gravitas of previous clashes between these two rivals, but it carries significant intrigue — both on and off the field — especially with the revelation that the “iffy” Lions have turned to senior coach Ivan van Rooyen for reinforcement.
Van Rooyen, the head coach of the Lions’ United Rugby Championship (URC) outfit, has reportedly stepped in to support the Currie Cup side, who are currently fourth on the standings with three wins and two losses. Despite a respectable position, there is growing dissatisfaction, particularly as the Lions have been fielding a side not far off their full-strength URC team.
According to Rugby365, head coach Mzwakhe Nkosi has been informed that Van Rooyen will be taking over with immediate effect — a move that underscores the urgency within the Lions camp.
This story is from the August 29, 2025 edition of The Star.
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