Lions forced to shuffle pack for Lyon Challenge Cup clash after Ruan Venter's four-match ban

The Lions are far from throwing in the towel in the EPCR Challenge Cup, stressing that matches like Saturday’s visit of French side Lyon to Ellis Park (5.15pm kick-off) are key to building momentum in the United Rugby Championship (URC) and improving squad depth.

Despite back-to-back defeats in their opening two Challenge Cup pool matches, the Lions remain mathematically alive in the competition, knowing that victories in their final two fixtures could still secure a play-off berth. More importantly, the coaching staff believe the competition provides a platform to sharpen performance levels and prepare a wider group of players for the demands of the URC, where they are in the play-off spots in seventh place, basking in the afterglow of the weekend's derby win against the Sharks.

The weekend's victory in Durban came at a cost, however, with Ruan Venter's red card for a dangerous tackle on Sharks fullback Aphelele Fassi earning the forward a four-match suspension.

Judicial officer Rhian Williams, who oversaw the judicial process, found that the incident met the mid-range red card threshold, warranting a ban of six weeks, which was reduced due to mitigating factors, the Lions revealed in a statement. Venter will miss Saturday's match against Lyon, next weekend's final Challenge Cup pool match away to Perpignan, and the URC fixtures against the Ospreys and Bulls.

For now, the Lions' focus is firmly on the clash against Lyon and keeping their hopes alive in the competition. “We said from the start that we want to take this competition seriously. It’s like a sprint race – there’s only four pool games and then the round of 16, quarters, semis and finals – and we’re still going to chase that,” Lions forwards coach Julian Redelinghuys said earlier in the week.

“Coach Cash (Ivan van Rooyen) gave us a great explanation of where we are lying and all those different standings in the URC and the EPCR, so we know what needs to be done.

"There’s going to be a massive focus on it, and then to use the EPCR to build momentum for the URC, like all those different blocks you have to manage, while also building your squad to perform at the right time in both those seasons.

"It’s a challenge, but we feel the depth in the squad is getting there. The training sessions are really competitive, so the guys that are not playing are prepping us really well and it’s also prepping them well for when they need to come into action.”

That depth will be tested against a Lyon outfit accustomed to the physical demands of the French Top 14 and European rugby. Redelinghuys is bracing for a typically tight set-piece battle that he feels could define the match. Lions loose forward Siba Qoma highlighted the importance of seizing opportunities when they arise in a long, demanding season.

“There’s always players who don’t get as much opportunity to play as the rest and opportunities like this come around and the guys who don’t get much chance can show their talent,” he said.

With the URC entering a critical phase and rotation inevitable across competitions, performances against Lyon could shape selection decisions well beyond this weekend.

For a Lions side intent on sustaining progress across multiple fronts, Saturday’s Challenge Cup encounter is less about salvaging their campaign and more about laying foundations for the rest of the season.