Ivan van Rooyen has set his sights beyond just results, revealing a bold vision for what a successful Lions side could mean for Johannesburg.
Fresh off a commanding win over Edinburgh at Ellis Park, the Lions coach drew inspiration from an unlikely source – a visit to a LIV Golf event in the city.
“I popped into the LIV golf and saw what an event like that could do for the city,” Van Rooyen told IOL.
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“It got me thinking about what the Lions could do (if successful). We would love to do something similar for Joburg. The energy and the professionalism of the event were incredible.
“We would love to mirror that,” the coach added.
“When you are at that level, you get the people back, you can change the economy in the area, you can make a difference. I am up for that.”
It’s a statement that reflects just how far the Lions have come.
After years of frustration, the Pride are suddenly a team on the rise. Sitting seventh on the Vodacom URC log and riding a wave of momentum, they’ve strung together impressive wins over the Sharks, Stormers and Edinburgh, while also securing the SA Shield.
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For Van Rooyen, it’s the reward for a long-term rebuild.
“Three years ago, we decided to start with an exciting young group that we could build a future around. Hopefully, we are seeing the fruits of that now. I’m just immensely proud of the guys who want to wear this badge and stand for something special and move forward.”
Photo: Gallo Images
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