Coach Records

Ivan van Rooyen is the current head coach at the Lions, he was appointed on 30 October 2019, replacing previous coach, Swys de Bruin.

The rest of his management team is:

Forwards & Line-Out Coach - Barend Pieterse
Attackā€š Backs & Skills Coach - Ricardo Loubscher
Defence Coach - Jaque Fourie


United Rugby Championship coaches at the Lions:

Coach Period Matches Won Win Ratio
Ivan van Rooyen 2021-2024 48 23 47.9%
Challenge Cup coaches at the Lions:
Coach Period Matches Won Win Ratio
Ivan van Rooyen 2022-2024 10 5 50.0%
Currie Cup coaches at the Lions:
Coach Period Matches Won Win Ratio
Mziwakhe Nkosi 2022-2023 23 6 26.1%
Ivan van Rooyen 2018-2022 35 18 51.4%
Swys de Bruin 2017 10 5 50.0%
Herkie Kruger 2017 3 1 33.3%
Johan Ackermann 2012-2016 55 35 63.6%
John Mitchell 2010-2011 30 19 63.3%
Hans Coetzee 2009 14 7 50.0%
Eugene Eloff 2006-2008 45 27 60.0%
Frans Ludeke 2001-2005 61 39 63.9%
Laurie Mains 1999-2000 26 19 73.1%
Super Rugby coaches at the Lions:
Coach Period Matches Won Win Ratio
Ivan van Rooyen 2020 6 1 16.7%
Swys de Bruin 2018-2019 35 19 54.3%
Johan Ackermann 2012-2017 71 46 64.8%
John Mitchell 2011-2012 29 5 17.2%
Dick Muir 2010 13 0 0.0%
Eugene Eloff 2007-2009 39 11 28.2%
Frans Ludeke 2006 13 2 15.4%
Ray Mordt 1997 11 5 45.4%
Kitch Christie 1996 11 3 27.3%
Rainbow Cup coaches at the Lions:
Coach Period Matches Won Win Ratio
Ivan van Rooyen 2021 5 1 20%
Super Rugby Unlocked coaches at the Lions:
Coach Period Matches Won Win Ratio
Ivan van Rooyen 2020 4 1 25%
Preparation Match coaches at the Lions:
Coach Period Matches Won Win Ratio
Mziwakhe Nkosi 2021 2 2 100%
Ivan van Rooyen 2021 2 1 50%

Go to the LionsWorld Youtube channel for videos of interviews with the Lions coaches before and after matches by clicking here

“Forwards win games, backs decide by how much.”