Lions – praag.org

Botswana bans sports hunters

The Government of Botswana made it clear on Friday that sports hunters would not be welcome in its country as it lamented the killing of Zimbabwe’s Cecil the lion by American dentist Walter James Palmer.

Government spokesperson Jeff Ramsay said sports hunting had been banned in Botswana and last year the government had also moved to ensure that Botswana’s lions and other large carnivores were not exported to South Africa or any other country for so-called “canned hunting”.

Ramsay said his government had learnt with deep concern about the killing of the collared and protected lion which it understood had been lured from Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park.

“We commend the concerned authorities for acting swiftly and arresting the culprits,” Ramsay said in a statement. “We remain hopeful that they will all be prosecuted for carrying out this unjustified act.

“It is our stern belief that safari hunting of threatened species such as lions has the potential to undermine our regional anti-poaching efforts as it encourages illegal trade which in turn promotes poaching.

“To this end, individuals partaking in such sport hunting expeditions will not be welcome in Botswana.”

Ramsay clarified his statement in an interview by saying that sports hunting had been banned.

“Last year we also moved to close any loopholes in the export of our lions etc for canned hunting in your country (South Africa) or elsewhere.”

He referred to a statement of the Botswana Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism which said: “Botswana is opposed to ‘canned hunting’, the practice in which large carnivores such as lions or other wildlife species are raised in captivity and hunted in small camps with no room for escape or to elude the hunter.

“These animals are often raised in inhumane conditions in close contact with humans. The Government of Botswana is committed to conserving our biodiversity; large carnivores included and does not tolerate cruelty to our wildlife in any form.

“Efforts are underway to strengthen legislation to ensure that this abhorrent and unethical practice does not find its way into Botswana under any guise. Botswana will closely scrutinise all requests to export wildlife to any destination.”

Asked to confirm that all sports hunting was banned in Botswana, Ramsay said: “We are not giving out any licences for sport hunting here. The only avenue for potential abuse would be on game farms, but yes sport hunting is effectively banned.”

Source: ANA

Lions rugby player hacked to death

Lions and Pirates rugby player Thulani Popoyi was found dead on 5 October at the Dollar Table, a night club in Melville.

Police investigations are underway for the murder of previous Golden Lions Sevens and Pirates black rugby player Thulani Popoyi who was found dead on 5 October at the Dollar Table in Melville.

Popoyi had been found brutally murdered. He had multiple stab wounds and his chest had been hacked open.

The 29-year-old was out with his friends and disappeared after a while.

His attacker did not take anything from him – he still had his belongings on him.

There was no blood where he was found, however, one of the car guards looked inside the club and discovered a trail of blood as if someone had tried to clean it up.

It appears that the Dollar Table has been operating without a valid licence.

Colin Law, Popoyi’s friend and guardian, was still in shock,“We don’t know how it happened, But my biggest concern is that a young man lost his life. The place was operating illegally,” he said.

Brixton Police managed to arrest the club owner for not attending to the scene immediately.

Lions maul Bulls 62-23

Josh Strauss, supported by Derek Minnie, of the Lions in action against the Bulls during a Super Rugby match last year

The Golden Lions secured their second victory over the Blue Bulls at Loftus Versfeld with an emphatic 62-23 triumph in a Currie Cup match on Saturday.

The visitors ran in eight tries to two for the Bulls, while Lions flyhalf Marnitz Boshoff also played a central role with a 100 percent kicking record converting all eight tries and slotting over two more penalties.

After last weekend’s snore fest, the Loftus faithful were treated to an action-packed Jukskei Derby in the Capital City.

The scoreboard ticked over for the first time four minutes after the start and continued do that almost every five minutes.

Bulls flyhalf Tony Jantjies opened the scoring with a penalty conversion, while his opposite number Boshoff replied with a penalty goal two minutes later.

The hosts again made the first move in terms of crossing the whitewash when Travis Ismail scored in the left-hand corner after a good passage of play, with Jantjies missing the conversion.

Five minutes later the Lions responded with a devastating driving maul from a lineout with Jaco Kriel scoring from the back.

In a typical tit-for-tat battle, it was the turn of the Bulls to cross the line, with fullback Jurgen Visser adding a five-pointer, but failing to convert his own try.

Just before the half-hour the Lions trailed by three points before flanker Willie Britz picked up a fumbled Bulls ball and showed a burst of speed to advance to within five metres of the line with Deon Helberg fielding to go over the lin.

Visser brought his side within a point of the Lions before Boshoff had the last say of the half with a penalty conversion to give his side a four-point lead going into the break.

The Bulls made an encouraging start to the second half thanks to a superb break by Clayton Blommetjies, who gave a well-weighted pass to Francois Venter for the score, with Visser converting.

The game, however, swung in the Lions’ favour when Bulls prop was given a yellow card in the 49th minute for a repeated offence.

A minute later Man-of-the-Match Britz scored his second try of the match after another rolling maul by the Lions.

Lions captain Derick Minnie scored his side’s bonus-point try four minutes later after some great interplay between Anthony Volmink and Britz.

The rampage continued unabated as the Bulls could not plug the holes with Minnie adding his second five-pointer in the 59th minute, while Volmink broke the Bulls’ spirit with an intercept try seven minutes later.

The Bulls’ suffering was far from over as the Lions added two more tries with Warwick Tecklenburg adding his name to the scorers, while Volmink gave up his second try to Elton Jantjies bringing their try fest to an end four minutes from time.

Scorers: Blue Bulls 23 (16): Tries: Travis Ismaiel, Jurgen Visser, Francois Venter.

Conversion: Visser.

Golden Lions 62 (20): Tries: Willie Britz (2), Deon Helberg, Derick Minnie (2), Anthony Volmink, Warwick Tecklenburg, Elton Jantjies. Conversions: Marnitz Boshoff (8). Penalties: Boshoff (2). – Sapa

Cheetahs narrowly beat Lions

The Free State Cheetahs got their Absa Currie Cup campaign off to a good start when they narrowly beat the Golden Lions 30-29 at Ellis Park Stadium on Saturday.

They return home with maximum points after outscoring their opponents by four tires to three. After conceding an early penalty, the Cheetahs scored the first try of match through centre Robert Ebershon. The visitors, who had several Super Rugby players in their starting line-up, appeared to be the more polished side as they put the Lions under pressure. They were rewarded when Boom Prinsloo went over for a typical forward’s try to give his side a 13-6 lead.

The Lions have some good runners in their side as well…. one of them is centre Stokkies Hanekom, who scored their first try. The Cheetahs, who were trailing 16-13 at half time, only had themselves to blame as they squandered several scoring opportunities. Although the second half was rather scrappy at times, the Cheetahs enjoyed territorial advantage early on.

They regained the lead through a Sarel Pretorious try, before Johan Sadie gave them the bonus point try. The introduction of Elton Jantjies gave the Lions a new lease on life. They scored two tries in the last quarter, but fell short by a point as the Cheetahs won the first round of the cat fight. – SABC

Lions back in Super Rugby

The Lions have clawed their way back into Super Rugby despite going down 23-18 to the Southern Kings in their second leg promotion-relegation match at Ellis Park on Saturday.

Coach Johan Ackermann said they are keen to retain the services of flyhalf Elton Jantjies and lock Franco van der Merwe.

“We’re going straight into negotiations with senior players this week.

“We couldn’t commit to the players until we knew the outcome of these two games against the Kings.

“We had a plan B in place in case we didn’t earn promotion, which was to focus on… our junior structures, but now we can start speaking to players such as Franco van der Merwe and Elton Jantjies.

“Obviously their agents have been negotiating with other unions, so we need to move quickly if we want to retain their services.

“The floor for negotiation is now open, and in Elton’s case it’s up to him to decide where he wants to play, said Ackermann.

Jantjies was loaned to the Stormers while Van der Merwe spent time at the Sharks during this year’s Super Rugby competition.

Regarding Saturday’s match, the Kings needed to win by more than eight points to remain in Super Rugby, but did not have enough firing power to get themselves over the final hurdle.

It was billed as one of the matches of the season, however, the first half did not live up to the hype as handling errors were the order of the day which added to an uneventful half of rugby.

While the Kings went into the match as overwhelming underdogs following last weekend’s defeat in the Port Elizabeth, they came out firing.

The visitors drew the first blood 11 minutes after the start of the match with Scott van Breda succeeding with a penalty conversion.

Van Breda extended their lead three minutes later to give the team a good cushion early on in the game, but missed the opportunity to take another three points on the 20 minute mark.

While Van Breda had some success with his place kicking, Lions flyhalf Elton Jantjies had some trouble with his aim at the posts.

Jantjies missed three of his attempts at goal, which ultimately did not have a major influence on the game.

The flyhalf’s ball distribution was nevertheless crisp as he put the backline on the front foot.

The Lions had their first opportunity to diminish the Kings’ lead in the 23rd minute, but Jantjies’ kick dropped short of the cross-bar.

Seven minutes later he was on target to bring his side within three points of the coastal side.

The hosts then took the lead for the first time in the match, five minutes from the half-time whistle, when Derick Minnie scored from a driving maul from a lineout, with Jantjies missing the conversion.

The Kings, however, had the last say in the match as Van Breda slotted over a penalty a minute from the break to give them a slender one-point lead.

After the break the Lions wrested the lead back again through a penalty conversion (11-9).

The Lions continued to grow in confidence and scored their second try of the match when Jaco Kriel found his way over the whitewash, with Jantjies converting for a nine-point lead.

The home side’s fortunes, however, started to turn when centre Stokkies Hanekom was yellow-carded for a tip tackle in the 67th minute.

A minute later the Kings prop Schalk Ferreira forced his way over the line, with Van Breda converting for a two-point deficit.

With seven minutes left on the clock the Kings scored again with Van Breda touching down in the corner and converting his own try for a five-point lead.

It, however, proved to be a bitter-sweet victory for the Kings as they needed to win by eight points to remain in Super Rugby.

As referee Stuart Berry signaled the end of the match Ellis Park erupted with Queen’s We are the Champions echoing through the stadium.

Scorers: Lions 18 (8): Tries: Derick Minnie, Jaco Kriel. Conversions: Elton Jantjies.Penalties: Jantjies (2) Southern Kings 23 (9): Tries: Schalk Ferreira, Scott van Breda. Conversion: Van Breda (2). Penalties: Van Breda (3). – Sapa and Praag

Lions victorious in away game against Kings

Last night's match between the Lions (in red) and the Kings — Last night’s match between the Lions (in red) and the Kings

Lions captain JC Janse van Rensburg praised the courage and character of his team as they registered a crucial away win in the first leg of their Super Rugby promotion-relegation series against the Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth on Friday.

The visiting side, who lost their Super Rugby status this year to the Kings, beat them 26-19 to take a massive advantage into the second leg in Johannesburg next Saturday.

The Kings, though, picked up one bonus point for ending within seven points of the Lions’ score.

Van Rensburg, whose team have not had many tough matches recently, said it was the most physical game they had played this season.

“Yes, it was definitely a tough, physical game and we made a lot of mistakes in the first half, but hats off to our team for the guts they showed tonight (Friday),” Janse van Rensburg said.

The Lions tested the Kings’ defence, one of the Eastern Cape franchise’s outstanding assets this season, he said.

“We worked hard to attack their defence because we knew it was very good and in the second half it went well.

“We showed a lot of character and we fought for each other.

“Now we are looking forward to Ellis Park, which suits our game, and we will have 40 000 fans behind us this time.”

For Kings skipper Darron Nell, it was a tough pill to swallow, but he took some solace from the fact they had earned a bonus point.

“That bonus point was the at least something,” Nell said, “and now we know what we have to do — win by more than seven points — and we must plan accordingly.”

He paid tribute to the Lions for their efforts, while adding that the Kings’ attacking moves were not as clinical as they should have been.

“The Lions did very well, they kept the ball better than we did and we didn’t get our set phases right to get into the game. So that is something we need to get work on and get right for next week,” Nell said.

“I think we can just look at where we went wrong and work on those things, and that should help our game massively. I thought the guys played well at stages but there were times, on attack, when we weren’t great.” – sapa

Solomons eager to retain Super Rugby status for Kings

Southern Kings director of rugby Alan Solomons has encouraged his team to live up to expectations when they meet the Lions in the first of their Super Rugby promotion/relegation playoff fixtures on Friday.

In what is being billed as their biggest challenge of the season, the teams clash at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, in Port Elizabeth, in the first of two legs, with a spot in next year’s Super Rugby competition the prize.

The second leg will be played in Johannesburg on August 2 and the team with the most log points after the two games will join the remaining four South African franchises in the 2014 competition.

“This match is critical to both franchises because the consequences of these matches are extremely serious,” Solomons said ahead of the crunch encounter.

“The winners of these two matches remain in Super Rugby and the side that loses is out of Super Rugby.

“And you have to understand the consequences of not playing in Super Rugby, because there is no inspiration to retain young players and no top-class rugby for the public, so the consequences are dire.”

His words were echoed by Lions’ president Kevin de Klerk, who said it had become extremely difficult to retain sponsors and the fans’ interest without the lure of Super Rugby.

The Kings suffered a blow when regular centre and captain Andries Strauss was ruled out of the promotion series, and was replaced by young Shane Gates, with lock Darron Nell taking over as skipper.

The Lions will be desperate to regain their Super Rugby status and have named an experienced line-up for the first encounter, with flyhalf Elton Jantjies and lock Franco van der Merwe set to play key roles.

After seeing the Lions team, Solomons said he was expecting a massive test, but was up to the contest.

“There is no question that the Lions have got some really good players, but I do not think they are better than we are,” he said.

“I think this will be a tight affair that will turn on little things.”

Kings’ centre Ronnie Cooke said the coastal outfit were prepared for a running game from the Lions.

“Elton brings an x-factor to the game that will suit the Lions because they play a running game,” Cooke said. “He could spark something for them.”

Both Solomons and Kings’ coach Matt Sexton said there was a feeling of excitement in the camp, but said they were concentrating on the basics and sticking largely to the game plan which had worked for them this season.

“I think the general feeling we have is excitement, it’s a huge occasion, it’s like a test match or world cup final,” Sexton said.

“The guys are looking forward to the occasion.”

The New Zealander said he did not want to give too much away about the game plan.

“You take each team on their merits and there are opportunities that will be presented during the match and we just need to capitalise on that,” he said.

“The times where we have been successful on the score board are times where we’ve been very clinical in our approach.”

Meanwhile, Lions coach Johan Ackermann is well aware of the implications for the two matches.

“We all know how important it is and the [Lions] players are hungry to get another taste of Super Rugby,” he said. “We can’t hide from the fact that there’s a lot at stake and for both teams there are two important weeks ahead.”

Ackermann has had to weld a side together after many senior players were loaned out during the season and he is hoping the Lions will not have to face the situation again.

“It [defeat] will be a huge blow for either union. In their case, having been in just for one year, then fall out and stop the entire process… it will be an enormous setback. – sapa

Darron Nell to lead Kings against Lions in crucial match

Experienced lock Darron Nell will captain the Southern Kings in the first of the two-leg Super Rugby promotion-relegation matches against the Lions in Port Elizabeth on Friday.

“Darron has done a tremendous job for us over the years in a leadership role,” Kings director of rugby Alan Solomons said on Tuesday.

“Whenever he has captained a side he has done so successfully, and after giving the matter careful consideration we feel he is the best man to lead the side in this big game.”

Nell stepped into the leadership role after centre Andries Strauss broke his left hand in training on Friday and was ruled out of the double-header against the Lions.

Strauss assumed the captaincy earlier in the season when first-choice captain Luke Watson was sidelined through injury.

Former Sharks lock Steven Sykes, who has also captained the Kings this season, was named on the bench for Friday’s clash.

The second leg of the promotion-relegation matches will be played in Johannesburg on August 2.

Promising young centre Shane Gates stepped up to replace Strauss and will partner vice-captain Ronnie Cooke in the midfield.

New Zealander Hadleigh Parkes, who missed much of the season with a broken arm, will slot in at wing.

“He (Cooke) has, throughout the season, had a very influential role and has played nearly every single game for us, and we are very fortunate to have someone of that ilk taking leadership of the backs,” Solomons said.

Solomons said there was a fair amount of consistency in the team that had been selected, with many pairings having played together during the season.

The pack remained relatively unchanged, with Schalk Ferreira, Bandise Maku and Kevin Buys forming the front row, while the loose trio of Wimpie van der Walt, Jacques Engelbrecht and Cornell du Preez would be looking to make a significant impact.

“This match is critical to both franchises, because the consequences of these matches are extremely serious,” Solomons said.

“The winners of these two matches remains in Super Rugby and the side that loses is out of Super Rugby.”

Southern Kings team: SP Marais, Marcello Sampson, Shane Gates, Ronnie Cooke (captain), Hadleigh Parkes, Demetri Catrakilis, Shaun Venter, Schalk Ferreira, Bandise Maku, Kevin Buys, Cornell du Preez, Darron Nell, David Bulbring, Wimpie van der Walt, Jacques Engelbrecht.

Replacements: Hannes Franklin, Charl du Plessis, Steven Sykes, Devin Oosthuizen, Nicolas Vergallo, Waylon Murray, George Whitehead. – Sapa

Lions team to face Griquas in friendly rugby match

Lions head coach Johan Ackermann named his side to face the Griquas at Ellis Park this Saturday. Kick-off is at 15h00.

The friendly match was being used by the Lions as part of their preparations for a two-leg Super Rugby promotion/relegation playoff against the Southern Kings. The matches take place on July 26 in Port Elizabeth and August 2 in Johannesburg.

Lions: Ruan Combrinck, Deon van Rensburg, Stokkies Hanekom, Dylan des Fountain, Anthony Volmink, Marnitz Boshoff, Guy Cronje, Lambert Groenewald, Derick Minnie, Warwick Tecklenburg, JJ Breet, Hendrik Roodt, Julian Redelinghuys, Francois du Toit, JC Janse van Rensburg (captain).

Replacements: Mark Pretorius, Jacques van Rooyen, Ruan Dreyer, Hugo Kloppers/Gavin Annandale, Willie Britz, Ross Cronje/Viaan van der Watt, Lionel Cronje, Chrysander Botha, Deon Helberg.