Lions Boosted By Key Player Returns Ahead Of Crucial Overseas Tour

The Lions tour squad was boosted by the return of Springbok fullback Quan Horn and outside centre Henco van Wyk for their two crucial overseas United Rugby Championship URC clashes and Challenge Cup playoff match.

But the good news came mixed with some bad, with Bok scrumhalf Morne van den Berg missing the trip due to an injured thumb. He picked it up in the narrow defeat to the Sharks earlier this month.

The Johannesburg side left for Wales on Monday, where they will face Cardiff Rugby this coming Friday. After that, they are off to Scotland for a meeting with the defending champions, the Glasgow Warriors.

A Challenge Cup knockout match follows in April against Edinburgh in the Scottish capital, and the Lions have braced themselves for a tough United Kingdom trip.

Head coach Ivan van Rooyen selected a 28-man group which sees the return of flyhalf Kade Wolhuter who will provide cover for the in-form Manni Rass. Scrumhalf Layton Horn earned his first call-up to a Lions tour squad and will be second-in-charge behind Nico Steyn.