Marx extends Emirates Lions contract to 2021

In a significant boost for SA Rugby and the Lions Rugby Company, Springbok hooker Malcolm Marx has extended his contract with the Emirates Lions until 2021.

Lions Rugby Company, together with SA Rugby, and the newly established contracting model have been able to retain the services of the outstanding Springbok hooker by ensuring the player’s career is managed and sustained.

Marx will be able to enjoy a temporary release after the 2019 Rugby World Cup for a sabbatical in Japan and he will return to South Africa and the Emirates Lions in June 2020.

Rudolf Straeuli, CEO of the Lions Rugby Company, said they were immensely proud to retain the services of Marx. “Malcolm has always given the Lions and Springboks 100 % effort and dedication and to ensure sustainability in the young player’s career, it is important that, together, we look after his wellbeing.”

Rassie Erasmus, SA Rugby’s Director of Rugby, said he was delighted that Marx had renewed his contract.

“Malcolm has established himself as a world-class player and his contribution to the Springboks has been immense, so his decision to renew his contract with the Lions is very good news indeed,” said Erasmus.

“Malcolm’s contract renewal at the Lions is a fantastic result for the new contracting model that the players, unions and SA Rugby worked to agree and was announced on Friday. It proves what can be achieved if we all work together with the best interests of the player and South African rugby in mind,” added Erasmus.

“For now I am totally focused on the Lions Vodacom Super Rugby campaign and forming part of the Springboks for 2019,” Marx said.

Issued by the Lions Rugby Company and SA Rugby Communications

15-Jun-2019

Lions season halted at Loftus

The Emirates Lions’ Vodacom Super Rugby season came to halt at Loftus on Saturday as they succumbed to a fiery Vodacom Bulls side by 48-27. The result confirms the 2019 quarter-final line up. The Crusaders will host the Highlanders, the Jaguares welcome the Chiefs, and the Bulls will travel to the Hurricanes with the Sharks facing the Brumbies away.

The Lions narrowly missed out on a spot in the playoffs for the first time in four seasons. The entertainment level of this match was next level and a great advert for free-flowing and innovative play, but not for the art of defending.

It was a game of two distinct halves as the breathless first stanza produced 50 points – and amazingly no scrums – and the second only 25 points. In a wild start, the sides went blow for blow with two early tries before the Bulls pulled away on the scorecard. From the initial kick-off, the Bulls defence was picked off by a dazzling run from Aphiwe Dyantyi who found Hacjivah Dayimani. This try by the flying number eight in the 15th second is a new South African record.

The Bulls responded with a seven-pointer to even things up, before the visitors regained the lead thanks to a penalty from Elton Jantjies. But they would soon relinquish the advantage as the Bulls became stronger, bolder and started to play with more conviction.

The hosts proceeded to score three unanswered tries coupled with a three-pointer from Handre Pollard, while the Lions could only manage two extra penalties and a drop goal from Andries Coetzee to trail 31-19.

With a mountain to climb at the restart, the Lions enjoyed another dream start, adding eight points to their tally while the Bulls were down to 14. But that was where their comeback started and stopped.

The Bulls refused to let the Lions back into the contest. They chalked up three more tries to make sure the Lions didn’t get within the desired seven-point losing region, which would have seen them advance to the knock-out stage.