MTN Lions
The Lions have finally announced their proposed fixtures to be played in lieu of Super Rugby participation in 2013.
The fixtures include matches from the “Lions Challenge”, as well as some friendlies against Super Rugby opposition as well as a number of international, American and European club sides.
The full media release from the Lions follows:
The worst kept secret in South African rugby has finally been confirmed. Elton Jantjies will be a Stormer in 2013.
Jaco Taute, Lions and Springbok centre and fullback has penned his deal with the Stormers on loan from the Golden Lions Rugby Union, for Super Rugby 2013.
The next dramatic chapter in the protracted Super Rugby participation saga will be written in Johannesburg on Thursday.
Golden Lions Rugby Union President Kevin de Klerk said that he will meet up with the South African Rugby Union hierarchy on Thursday. This follows the SARU decision last week to axe the Lions and replace them with the Southern Kings in 2013.
South African Rugby officials have confirmed that the Southern Kings will play Super Rugby and that the Lions will sit it out for the 2013 Super Rugby season.
The Golden Lions Rugby Union faces a tough, telling seven days that could well determine the future of the once-proud union in the coming few years.
Bulls (20) 37 / (20) 20 Lions (Final Score)
The Vodacom Bulls and MTN Lions did battle in Super Rugby at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria at 19:10 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Lions (24) 37 / (7) 32 Rebels (Final Score)
The MTN Lions and Melbourne Rebels did battle in Super Rugby at Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg at 17:05 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
The Lions started as the stronger team, quickly heaping up 3 tries, but then had to endure a strong Rebels comeback. Eventually the Lions came from behind to win with a bonus point for tries scored.
The Rebels took away 2 bonus points from the game but will feel that they should have won, after leading with only 6 minutes still to play.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Michael Bondisio
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The ongoing saga surrounding suspended Lions coach John Mitchell’s position is likely to drag on past the end of the current Vodacom Super Rugby season.
Stormers (13) 27 / (3) 17 Lions (Final Score)
The DHL Stormers and the MTN Lions do battle in Super Rugby at Newlands, Cape Town at 17:05 SA Time.
This is the live match discussion Article
Discuss it at will if you please, we have not got an Author on standby to do live score updates for us at present, I am on route to Loftus.
The match is broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Well whoever said rugby was boring. In one fell swoop, the Sharks were left washed up on some beach on the Jukskei, the Bulls were humbled at home, Heyneke Meyer attempts to fark with our heads and Keo is up for a bit of sex and coke. And that is all before the Queen steps onto her barge!
Lions (32) 38 / (11) 28 Sharks (Final Score)
The MTN Lions and The Sharks did battle in Super Rugby at Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg at 17:05 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Regarding the last few weeks 2013 Super Rugby shenanigans, the GLRU have released the following statement.
Lions prop CJ van der Linde has been cited for biting Toby Lynn in the Force’s victory over the Lions on Saturday in Perth.
Force (3) 17 / Lions (8) 11 (Final Score)
The Western Force and MTN Lions did battle in Super Rugby at nib Stadium, Perth at 13:40 SA Time (19:40 Perth Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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It looks likely that the Cheetahs will remain a Super Rugby team next year, with the Lions dropping out at the expense of the Southern Kings.
Reds (13) 34 / Lions (6) 20 (Final Score)
The Reds and MTN Lions did battle in Super Rugby at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane at 11:40 SA Time (19:40 Brisbane Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
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The Lions may be fighting a survival battle on several fronts, but they remain firm in their resolve to retain their Super Rugby status.
Blues (10) 25 / Lions (3) 3 (Final Score)
The Blues and MTN Lions did battle in Super Rugby at Eden Park, Auckland at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
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VS
Last night, one of our Authors, Just for Kicks, mailed me regarding the spreading spat between the Pro-HSM (Highbury Safika Media) crowd and the Pro-Joffers crowd (Greame Joffe and like-minded parties), for want of defining the parties better…
… and thrust in the middle is the dillemma of involvement of the Southern Kings in Super Rugby in 2013 versus possible relegation of the worst performing South African Super Rugby franchise, the Lions, as well as SARU’s apparent woeful handling of Super Rugby participation.
The matter has now escalated to a seemingly FREE-FOR-ALL !
The contents of this Article is long and sometimes laboured, but the serious South African rugby supporter would do well to read and listen to all of it, and form his or her own opinion about the subject matter.
Chiefs (20) 34 / Lions (7) 21 (Final Score)
The Chiefs and MTN Lions did battle in Super Rugby at Bayer Growers Stadium, Pukekohe at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
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Lions (6) 20 / Brumbies (17) 34 (Final Score)
The MTN Lions and Brumbies did battle in Super Rugby at Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg at 19:10 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
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Lions coach John Mitchell says that his team are still on track to reach this year’s Super Rugby play offs and that their resurgence starts this weekend against the Brumbies.
Lions (10) 18 / Bulls (20) 32 (Final Score)
The MTN Lions and Vodacom Bulls did battle in Super Rugby at Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg at 19:10 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Cheetahs (23) 26 / Lions (0) 5 (Final Score)
The Toyota Cheetahs and MTN Lions did battle in Super Rugby at Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein at 15:00 SA Time.
The home side were too good for the upcountry visitors, and 23 unanswered points in the 2nd quarter of the game, coupled with excellent second half defence was enough to give the home side the 4 log points, taking them up to 3rd in the SA conference, and 8th in the combined log.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Lions (13) 13 / Crusaders (10) 23 (Final Score)
The MTN Lions and Crusaders did battle in Super Rugby at Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg at 17:05 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Former Bulls center, JP Nel, could play S15 rugby for the injury ravaged Lions.
Lions (7) 19 / Stormers (18) 24 (Final Score)
The MTN Lions and DHL Stormers did battle in Super Rugby at Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg at 19:10 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
The DHL Stormers raced to an early lead, and were 15 points up early on, but the MTN Lions never gave up and with over 60% possession were always in the game.
The DHL Stormers managed to endure tremendous pressure to hold on for the win, with the MTN Lions securing a losing bonus point.
Man Of The Match: Siya Kolisi
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Stormers go into the match against the Lions at Coca Cola Park on Saturday at 19h10 with the same side as last weekend.
South African referees boss André Watson says Lions coach John Mitchell was wrong to criticise the assistant referees after his side lost to the Sharks in Durban over the weekend.
Lions coach John Mitchell has put on report at least one of the match officials, following his team’s heart-breaking 20-32 loss to the Sharks in a Super Rugby match at the weekend.
The Sharks won their first Vodacom Super Rugby match of 2012 while the Vodacom Bulls let slip a great opportunity to remain top of the log as they lost at home to the Blues.
Sharks (17) 32 / Lions (6) 20 (Final Score)
The Sharks and MTN Lions did battle in Super Rugby at Kings Park, Durban at 17:05 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The sharks battled for 80 minutes in an error strewn game to break down a heavily injury depleted Lions side, who never capitulated. The Sharks secured the bonus point try in the dying seconds, and in so doing deprived the Lions of a losing bonus point.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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The Vodacom Bulls scored the first four-try bonus point of the season on local soil in Bloemfontein on Saturday as they beat the Toyota Cheetahs 51-19 to move to the top of the table after two weeks of Vodacom Super Rugby action.
Lions (8) 28 / Hurricanes (14) 30 (Final Score)
The MTN Lions and the Hurricanes did battle in Super Rugby at Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg at 19:10 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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