Lions players really need to 'step up & shoulder responsibility'

The Lions players are readying themselves to make the step-up and be counted as they chase a first appearance in the United Rugby Championship (URC) play-offs later in the current season.

- Ross Roche

In their three URC campaigns, the Lions have never finished in the top eight, which secures a place in the quarterfinals, but have had two ninth-placed finishes over the past two seasons.

Lions captain Francke Horn (right) believes this is a huge opportunity for the players to prove their worth and show that they belong in the upper echelons of the URC.

That is easier said than done, as a poor UK tour over the past month saw the Lions slip to defeats against Cardiff and Glasgow Warriors, which dropped them to 14th on a congested URC log, while they were also dumped out of the EPCR Challenge Cup by Edinburgh.