Lions

33 - 21

Full Time

Connacht

Connacht vs Lions

Events

Commentary

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Live Updates

It's all over! The referee Filippo Russo has blown their whistle to end the game.

81'

Conversion

Sam Gilbert converts the try.

81'

Try

Connacht Rugby are stopped just a few metres from the try line but Paul Boyle picks up from the base of the ruck to score the try.

80'

Fiachna Barrett sets up the try.

80'

Dylan Tierney-Martin comes on for Connacht Rugby.

80'

Matt Victory leaves the field.

80'

Conversion

Sam Gilbert has kicked a conversion.

76'

Try

Matthew Devine goes on their own for a try.

76'

This is dangerous for the defence as Matthew Devine bursts through to advance the Connacht Rugby attack.

76'

A gap opened in the defence and Cian Prendergast took full advantage.

73'

Lions decide to make a substitution, with Nico Steyn getting some game time.

73'

Lions decide to make a substitution, with Morne van den Berg being replaced.

73'

Chris William Smith curls the ball too far, missing the posts to the right.

72'

Try

A series of passes by Lions results in a try for Henco van Wyk

71'

A gap opened in the defence and Henco van Wyk took full advantage.

71'

That's a great try assist by Quan Horn.

71'

Lions make a substitution with JC Pretorius coming on.

68'

Lions make a substitution with Francke Horn coming off.

68'

Lions make a substitution with Eddie Davids coming on.

65'

Lions make a substitution with SJ Kotze coming off.

65'

The defensive line has been broken as Erich Cronje goes through the gap.

63'

Lions sub Sibabalo Qoma comes onto the field.

61'

Darrien-Lane Landsberg departs for Lions.

61'

Lions sub Kelly Mpeku comes onto the field.

60'

Angelo Davids departs for Lions.

60'

Lions sub Sebastian Lombard comes onto the field.

60'

Asenathi Ntlabakanye departs for Lions.

60'

Lions sub Morne Brandon comes onto the field.

60'

PJ Botha departs for Lions.

60'

Reinhard Nothnagel comes on for Lions.

57'

Ruan Venter leaves the field.

57'

Bathobele Hlekani comes on for Lions.

57'

Eddie Davids leaves the field.

57'

Shayne Bolton comes on for Connacht Rugby.

56'

Hugh Gavin leaves the field.

56'

Eddie Davids comes on.

52'

Bathobele Hlekani comes off.

52'

Conversion

Sam Gilbert adds the two points for Connacht Rugby.

48'

Try

The defence are desperately trying to hold out here but it was to no avail as Matthew Devine dots the ball down from close range.

48'

Matthew Devine makes the break as the defence re-enacts the parting of the red sea.

48'

Connacht Rugby decide to make a substitution, with Darragh Murray getting some game time.

47'

Connacht Rugby decide to make a substitution, with Joe Joyce being replaced.

47'

Connacht Rugby decide to make a substitution, with Sean Jansen getting some game time.

47'

Connacht Rugby decide to make a substitution, with Shamus Hurley-Langton being replaced.

47'

Connacht Rugby decide to make a substitution, with Sean Naughton getting some game time.

46'

Connacht Rugby decide to make a substitution, with Jack Carty being replaced.

46'

Yellow Card

SJ Kotze (Lions) is shown a yellow card

46'

Connacht Rugby make a substitution with Fiachna Barrett coming on.

44'

Connacht Rugby make a substitution with Jack Aungier coming off.

44'

Connacht Rugby make a substitution with Matt Victory coming on.

44'

Connacht Rugby make a substitution with Dylan Tierney-Martin coming off.

44'

Connacht Rugby make a substitution with Billy Bohan coming on.

44'

Connacht Rugby make a substitution with Peter Dooley coming off.

44'

Connacht Rugby make a substitution with Matthew Devine coming on.

44'

Connacht Rugby make a substitution with Colm Reilly coming off.

44'

Conversion

Chris William Smith adds the two points for Lions.

44'

Try

Slick passing by Lions leads to a try for Erich Cronje.

43'

Francke Horn played a key part in that try.

43'

Francke Horn makes the break as the defence re-enacts the parting of the red sea.

43'

The second half kicks off.

40'

The half-time whistle blows and both teams head for the dressing rooms.

40'

Conversion

Chris William Smith adds the two points for Lions.

40'

Try

Incisive passing by Lions is finished off by Sibabalwe Mahashe, as they goes over for the try.

39'

Fabulous play by Lions has led to Sibabalwe Mahashe being able to wriggle through a gap.

39'

That's a great try assist by Henco van Wyk.

39'

Conversion

Chris William Smith makes no mistake with that conversion attempt.

22'

Try

Henco van Wyk goes on their own for a try.

21'

This is dangerous for the defence as Henco van Wyk bursts through to advance the Lions attack.

21'

That's a great try assist by Chris William Smith.

21'

A gap opened in the defence and Darrien-Lane Landsberg took full advantage.

15'

Conversion

Chris William Smith has kicked a conversion.

Try

Great hands by Lions leads to a try for Angelo Davids

The defensive line has been broken as Angelo Davids goes through the gap.

That's a great try assist by Chris William Smith.

The defensive line has been broken as SJ Kotze goes through the gap.

We are underway as the referee Filippo Russo blows their whistle.

Match Details

  
 Lions v Connacht 
  
 Round 16 
  
 Sat 25th April 2026, 07:00am PDT 
  
 Ellis Park 
  
 Flo Rugby 
  
 Filippo Russo

Points Flow Chart

Lions win +12

Time in lead

Mins in lead

96%

% Of Game In Lead

Possession Last 10 min

97%

Points Last 10 min

Key Events

Full Time

Gilbert

81'

33 - 21

Boyle

80'

33 - 19

Gilbert

76'

33 - 14

Devine

76'

33 - 12

van Wyk

33 - 7

71'

Gilbert

48'

28 - 7

Devine

48'

28 - 5

Kotze

28 - 0

46'

Smith

28 - 0

44'

Cronje

26 - 0

43'

Half Time

Smith

21 - 0

40'

Mahashe

19 - 0

39'

Smith

14 - 0

22'

van Wyk

12 - 0

21'

Smith

7 - 0

Davids

5 - 0

Start

22m Entries

Avg. Points Scored

Entries

Avg. Points Scored

Entries

Attack Profile

Lions

Connacht

More Less

Defence Profile

Lions

Connacht

More Less

Ruck Speed

0-3 secs

38%

39%

3-6 secs

32%

49%

6+ secs

29%

12%

Rucks Won

132

Last 5 Penalties

65'

68'

69'

78'

79'

Lions

Connacht

Lions vs Connacht Kick Off Times & TV Channel

Lions face off against Connacht in United Rugby Championship Round 16 on Sat 25th April 2026 at Ellis Park. Kick-off in the UK is scheduled for 15:00 and is broadcast on Premier Sports. In South Africa it’s at 16:00 SAST on SuperSport, 02:00 NZST on URC TV in New Zealand, 00:00 AEST on URC TV in Australia and 07:00 EST on Flo Rugby in the US.

Lions won the last encounter but Connacht are in the best form of their last 5 games.

Table Standings

Heading into the fixture the two sides are separated by just 1 place in the league table with Connacht in 7th and Lions in 8th underlining just how tight this match could be.

Lions vs Connacht Squads

The official squads for Lions vs Connacht will become available around 24- 48 hours before kick-off. Teams can still make changes up to an hour before the match however.