Lions name touring squad

Editor

Lions coach Johan Ackermann has named a 27-man touring squad for their upcoming four-match Super Rugby trip to Australasia.

Lions head coach Johan Ackermann has named a 27-man touring squad for their upcoming trip to Australasia, which will see them play four games.

The Johannesburg outfit start their tour at the Chiefs before facing the Highlanders, Waratahs and Western Force ahead of coming home.

Selection wise, in the pack Ruan Dreyer, Corne Fourie, Julian Redelinghuys, Schalk van der Merwe and Jacques van Rooyen are the props.

Robbie Coetzee and new recruit Armand van der Merwe will cover the hooker berth, while Luvuyiso 'MB' Lusaseni, Rudi Mathee, Franco Mostert and Martin Muller have been drafted in as locks.

In the loose forward positions Willie Britz, Jaco Kriel, Derick Minnie and Warwick Tecklenburg have earned selection. Warren Whiteley will also continue to captain the side on tour.

Meanwhile, in the backline, scrum-halves Ross Cronje and Faf de Klerk have cracked the nod for the touring squad.

Utility backs included in the group are Marnitz Boshoff (fly-half/full-back), Chrysander Botha (full-back/wing), JW Jonker (centre/wing), Lionel Mapoe (centre/wing), Courtnall Skosan (wing/centre) and Deon van Rensburg (wing/centre).

Specialist fly-half Elton Jantjies has earned selection while winger Anthony Volmink has also booked his space in the squad. Stefan Watermeyer will cover the midfield as a specialist centre.

Lions touring squad: Marnitz Boshoff, Chrysander Botha, Willie Britz, Robbie Coetzee, Ross Cronje, Faf de Klerk, Ruan Dreyer, Corne Fourie, Elton Jantjies, JW Jonker, Jaco Kriel, Luvuyiso 'MB' Lusaseni, Lionel Mapoe, Rudi Mathee, Derick Minnie, Franco Mostert, Martin Muller, Julian Redelinghuys, Courtnall Skosan, Warwick Tecklenburg, Armand van der Merwe, Schalk van der Merwe, Deon van Rensburg, Jacques van Rooyen, Anthony Volmink, Stefan Watermeyer, Warren Whiteley.