Leon Lyons is a part of a gaggle of “enthusiastic” leaders from DHL’s Western Province wanting to push their means into rivalry for prime honors by starring within the Currie Cup.

A scholar at Selborne School within the Japanese Cape, Lyons joined WP proper out of college and represented the Junior Springboks in 2018, alongside provincial teammates Sazi Sandi, Salmaan Moerat, Ben-Jason Dixon and Damian Willemse.

The burly 24-year-old is relishing the prospect to don the well-known blue and white earrings within the Currie Cup derby towards the Vodacom Bulls at Loftus Versfeld.

“I am positively wanting ahead to this weekend,” says Lyons. “I do know there are quite a lot of guys who do not get quite a lot of taking part in time this 12 months, so the Currie Cup is fantastic for us to unfold our wings somewhat bit and get caught in and present what we’re able to.

“I’m very excited for this weekend and this marketing campaign. Dobbo has emphasised what an excellent privilege it’s to play for Western Province. Everyone seems to be buzzing.”

Lyons was simply 22 when he was backed as much as make his DHL Stormers debut within the Tremendous Rugby unblocked conflict towards the Pumas in 2020.

Getting into the massive sneakers of Steven Kitshoff, who was dominated out of that match resulting from lockout protocols, Lyons led the way in which in a dominating scrumming efficiency as DHL Stormers claimed an exhilarating victory in Nelspruit.

Lyons has featured simply as soon as for the Stormers this season, however he hopes that via the Currie Cup he can present that he needs to be thought-about as a contender for the number one jersey made well-known by Kitshoff.

“I hope to have the ability to take part extra within the Vodacom United Rugby Championship. I have not been taking part in a lot recently, however I actually hope that on this Currie Cup I can present that I’m value taking part in extra at Vodacom URC and beginning.

“With the departure of Steven Kitshoff, I do know there’s a nice alternative for among the younger equipment to fill their sneakers. They’re huge sneakers to fill, nevertheless it’s an excellent alternative to have the ability to step into that place and take management, to be part of this crew.

“This crew means the world to me and I actually need to be part of it. With this Currie Cup, it is a chance to take it by the horns and present them what we’re made from.”

Mentored by skilled scrummagers on the crew’s Excessive Efficiency Heart in Bellville, Lyons is studying his commerce at among the finest scrum faculties within the sport.

“There’s a huge scrumming setting within the HPC,” he says. “I’d say our scrumming periods are more durable than any sport I’ve ever performed.

“Each Tuesday we come and the fellows are excited to show some extent. The younger try to tackle the good, and the good try to utterly destroy the younger. After we get to that pitch on Tuesday, the fellows are going all out for that scrum session. It’s a battle of the greats”.

Western Province made a vibrant begin to their 2023 Currie Cup marketing campaign towards the Lions in Johannesburg and returned to the peak to tackle the Vodacom Bulls in Pretoria on Friday.

“We all know it is going to be a tricky sport,” Lyons says. “We do not take the Vodacom Bulls as a right. We all know what the Bulls can do and we all know how good they’re at Loftus. They’ll mild up they usually’re coming for us.

“We’re prepared for that and we all know we have to step up our sport to beat them there. We suspect they are going to be taking part in towards a few of their Vodacom URC gamers, so we’ve got to boost the bar and put in a a lot better efficiency than we did towards the Lions. Particularly taking a look at that second half, we’ve got to be far more medical and united.”

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