Written by the 10bet Content Team. Published 12 October 2026.
The 10bet Lions are Johannesburg’s team in the United Rugby Championship (URC). The club was founded in 1996, plays its home matches at 10bet Ellis Park and carries the 10bet name as its official naming rights partner. This guide brings together the 2026/27 URC fixtures and results, kick-off times, the home games to circle at Ellis Park, the squad, and how to follow and bet on Lions matches responsibly. Fixtures, results, the log position and the squad list were checked against the official URC website on 12 October 2026.
10bet Lions at a glance
- Competition: United Rugby Championship (URC)
- Home ground: 10bet Ellis Park, Doornfontein, Johannesburg
- Founded: 1996
- 2026/27 league position: 7th after three rounds, with two wins, one defeat and 9 log points
- Next match: away to Edinburgh at the Hive Stadium on Friday 23 October 2026, 21:45 SAST
How the Lions have started 2026/27
The Lions opened the season with a 27–26 home win over Leinster at 10bet Ellis Park on 26 September. A week later they beat the Ospreys 35–19 at the same ground, scoring six tries to three. Their first defeat came on 10 October, 57–15 away to the Vodacom Bulls at Loftus Versfeld. That leaves them 7th on 9 log points after three rounds, with a points difference of minus 25. The table moves every round, so check the official URC log for the latest standings.
10bet Lions 2026/27 URC fixtures and results
Kick-off times below are South African time, as shown on the URC match centre on 12 October 2026. The URC can move fixtures for broadcast reasons, so confirm the date and time on the official site before you plan a match day. The Lions play 17 league matches in 2026/27, with no Lions match in Round 10.
| Round | Date | Match | Venue | Kick-off (SAST) or result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sat 26 Sep 2026 | 10bet Lions v Leinster | 10bet Ellis Park | Lions won 27–26 |
| 2 | Sat 3 Oct 2026 | 10bet Lions v Ospreys | 10bet Ellis Park | Lions won 35–19 |
| 3 | Sat 10 Oct 2026 | Vodacom Bulls v 10bet Lions | Loftus Versfeld | Bulls won 57–15 |
| 4 | Fri 23 Oct 2026 | Edinburgh v 10bet Lions | Hive Stadium | 21:45 |
| 5 | Fri 30 Oct 2026 | Glasgow Warriors v 10bet Lions | Scotstoun Stadium | 21:45 |
| 6 | Sat 5 Dec 2026 | 10bet Lions v Vodacom Bulls | 10bet Ellis Park | 14:30 |
| 7 | Sat 19 Dec 2026 | DHL Stormers v 10bet Lions | DHL Stadium | 16:00 |
| 9 | Sat 2 Jan 2027 | Hollywoodbets Sharks v 10bet Lions | Hollywoodbets Kings Park | 17:00 |
| 11 | Sat 30 Jan 2027 | 10bet Lions v Cardiff Rugby | 10bet Ellis Park | 14:45 |
| 8 | Sat 20 Feb 2027 | 10bet Lions v Hollywoodbets Sharks | 10bet Ellis Park | 14:00 |
| 12 | Sat 27 Feb 2027 | 10bet Lions v DHL Stormers | 10bet Ellis Park | 14:30 |
| 13 | Sat 20 Mar 2027 | Scarlets v 10bet Lions | Parc y Scarlets | 19:30 |
| 14 | Sat 27 Mar 2027 | Connacht v 10bet Lions | Dexcom Stadium | 16:15 |
| 15 | Sat 17 Apr 2027 | 10bet Lions v Munster | 10bet Ellis Park | 14:45 |
| 16 | Sat 24 Apr 2027 | 10bet Lions v Benetton | 10bet Ellis Park | 14:45 |
| 17 | Fri 7 May 2027 | Dragons RFC v 10bet Lions | Rodney Parade | 21:45 |
| 18 | Fri 14 May 2027 | Ulster v 10bet Lions | Affidea Stadium | 21:45 |
The regular season runs to Round 18 and is followed by the URC quarter-finals, semi-finals and grand final.
Home games at 10bet Ellis Park
Eight of the Lions’ 17 league matches are at 10bet Ellis Park: Leinster and the Ospreys (both already played), then the Vodacom Bulls on 5 December, Cardiff Rugby on 30 January, the Hollywoodbets Sharks on 20 February, the DHL Stormers on 27 February, Munster on 17 April and Benetton on 24 April.
The matches against the other South African sides are usually the ones with the most noise. The Lions host the Bulls, Sharks and Stormers once each and visit each of them once, and all three home games are at 10bet Ellis Park. For the history of the ground, how its name has changed and where it is, read our 10bet Ellis Park stadium guide.
The Lions squad
The URC squad page lists the players below among the Lions’ forwards and backs. Squads change through the season because of selection and injuries, so check the official team announcements before each match.
- Locks: Hyron Andrews, JP du Preez, Etienne Oosthuizen, WJ Steenkamp
- Flankers: Sikhumbuzo Notshe, JC Pretorius, Siba Qoma, Francke Horn, Jarod Cairns
- Front row: PJ Botha and Morne Brandon (hookers), Boan Venter and Juan Schoeman (props)
- Half-backs: Chris Smith and Sam Francis (fly-halves), Morne van den Berg and Nico Steyn (scrum-halves)
- Centres: Erich Cronje, Rynhardt Jonker, Kelly Mpeku
- Back three: Richard Kriel, Angelo Davids and Rabz Maxwane (wings), Boeta Chamberlain and Quan Horn (fullbacks)
In the 35–19 win over the Ospreys, the Lions’ tries came from Erich Cronje, PJ Botha, Morne Brandon, Boeta Chamberlain and Kelly Mpeku, who scored twice.
Betting on Lions matches
10bet is the Lions’ official naming rights partner, and URC matches are normally on the board at the 10bet sportsbook while the season is running. You can see what is currently available on our rugby betting page. New to rugby betting? Start with our beginner’s guide to betting on rugby. These are the markets you will see most often on Lions matches, though availability varies from match to match:
- Match result: back the Lions, their opponent or a draw. Draws are rare in rugby but they do happen.
- Handicap: one side starts with a points head start or deficit, which evens out a match between a favourite and an outsider.
- Total points: bet on whether the combined score finishes over or under a line.
- Try scorer markets: first or anytime try scorer, where wings and centres often carry the shorter prices.
- Winning margin and half-time/full-time: bet on how far a team wins by, or on who leads at half-time and at the final whistle.
Some things are worth checking before you bet. Team news usually comes out a couple of days before kick-off, so a late change at fly-half or hooker can move a price. Travel matters too: the Lions play several matches in Scotland, Wales and Ireland, while home games at Ellis Park are played about 1,750 metres above sea level, a factor often discussed for visiting sides. No factor guarantees a result, so treat any analysis as one input into your own decision. See the current 10bet offers and read the terms for any offer before you take it up.
Betting should be entertainment, not a way to make money. Set deposit and loss limits before you start and never bet more than you can afford to lose. Visit our Responsible Gambling page for tools and where to get help. 18+ only.
Frequently asked questions
Who are the 10bet Lions?
The 10bet Lions are the Johannesburg rugby union team that competes in the United Rugby Championship. The club was founded in 1996, plays at 10bet Ellis Park and is backed by 10bet as its official naming rights partner.
Where do the 10bet Lions play their home games?
At 10bet Ellis Park in Doornfontein, Johannesburg. Eight of the Lions’ 17 URC league matches in 2026/27 are scheduled there.
Which competition do the Lions play in?
The United Rugby Championship (URC), which includes South African, Irish, Welsh, Scottish and Italian clubs. The regular season runs to Round 18 and is followed by the quarter-finals, semi-finals and grand final.
When do the Lions play next?
As at 12 October 2026, the next Lions match is away to Edinburgh at the Hive Stadium on Friday 23 October 2026, with kick-off at 21:45 South African time. See the fixtures table above for the rest of the season.
Which South African teams do the Lions play in the URC?
The Lions play the Vodacom Bulls, the Hollywoodbets Sharks and the DHL Stormers home and away in 2026/27. The home games against them are on 5 December, 20 February and 27 February.
Can I bet on Lions matches at 10bet?
Yes. Lions URC matches are normally on the board at 10bet while the season is running, with pre-match and live markets. You must be 18 or older to bet, and you can set limits on our Responsible Gambling page.
