Lubabalo Dobela will steer the Lions from flyhalf in their Vodacom URC opener against Cardiff on Saturday.
Coach Cash van Rooyen has made two changes from the Currie Cup final defeat to Griquas.
Dobela starts at 10 in place of Chris Smith, who is unavailable after suffering a concussion last week. He links up with Nico Steyn at scrumhalf, while captain Quan Horn anchors the back three alongside Tapiwa Mafura, who replaces Kelly Mpeku, and Angelo Davids. Richard Kriel and Henco van Wyk form the midfield partnership.
Up front, Springbok prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye is joined by hooker Franco Marais and loosehead SJ Kotze. Dylan Sjoblom and Ruan Delport continue as the lock pairing, with Ruan Venter, Jarod Cairns and WJ Steenkamp making up a settled loose trio.
The bench sees Heiko Pohlmann come in to provide front-row cover, while Sam Francis is included as flyhalf backup.
MORE: Lions draw inspiration from Boks
Juan Schoeman, PJ Botha, JC Pretorius, Francke Horn, Jaco Visagie, Siba Qoma, Eduan Keyter and Rabz Maxwane are among those sidelined while Morne van den Berg is unavailable due to Bok selection.
LIONS – 15 Quan Horn (c), 14 Tapiwa Mafura, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Richard Kriel, 11 Angelo Davids, 10 Lubabalo Dobela, 9 Nico Steyn, 8 WJ Steenkamp, 7 Ruan Venter, 6 Jarod Cairns, 5 Ruan Delport, 4 Dylan Sjoblom, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 Franco Marais, 1 SJ Kotze.
Bench: 16 Morne Brandon, 17 Heiko Pohlmann, 18 RF Schoeman, 19 Darrien Landsberg, 20 Renzo du Plessis, 21 Haashim Pead, 22 Sam Francis, 23 Rynhardt Jonker.
Let the 2025/26 @URCOfficial_RSA season begin!
@Vodacom #URC | #ForOurCity | #LionsPridepic.twitter.com/DueGtAY19L
— Lions (@LionsRugbyCo) September 26, 2025
Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images
The post Dobela given the keys for Lions’ URC opener appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.