Lions vs Benetton Rugby 18-26 · EPCR Challenge Cup

Match report

Benetton Rugby beat Lions 26-18 away from home at Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg in round 1 of the EPCR Challenge Cup on Saturday, 6 December 2025.

Written automatically from the match data; updated as results come in.

Head to head

2

Lions wins (29%)

0

Draws (0%)

5

Benetton Rugby wins (71%)

Last 7 meetings, since April 2022

Biggest Lions win

37–29

30 Apr 2022

Biggest Benetton Rugby win

41–15

11 Oct 2025

Last 5 meetings

6 Dec 2025 · Challenge Cup
Lions18
Benetton Rugby26
6 Dec 2025Lions18–26Benetton RugbyChallenge Cup
11 Oct 2025 · United Rugby Championship
Benetton Rugby41
Lions15
11 Oct 2025Benetton Rugby41–15LionsUnited Rugby Championship
19 Apr 2025 · United Rugby Championship
Lions31
Benetton Rugby42
19 Apr 2025Lions31–42Benetton RugbyUnited Rugby Championship
6 Apr 2024 · Challenge Cup
Benetton Rugby27
Lions17
6 Apr 2024Benetton Rugby27–17LionsChallenge Cup
5 Nov 2023 · United Rugby Championship
Benetton Rugby15
Lions10
5 Nov 2023Benetton Rugby15–10LionsUnited Rugby Championship

Lineups

Avg. age

27.4

Avg. age

27.5

Lions

1SJ Kotze(23)
2Franco Marais(34)
3Asenathi Ntlabakanye(27)
4Ettienne Oosthuizen(33)
5Reinhard Nothnagel(29)
6Jarod Cairns(25)
7Ruan Venter(23)
8Francke Horn(27)
9Morné van den Berg(29)
10Christopher Smith(32)
11Eduan Keyter(30)
12Bronson Mills(23)
13Erich Cronjé(29)
14Kelly Mpeku(22)
15Quan Horn(25)

Replacements

16Morne Brandon(25)
17Eddie Davids(28)
18RF Schoeman(23)
19Darrien-Lane Landsberg(28)
20Renzo du Plessis(24)
21Nico Steyn(24)
22Richard Kriel(26)
23Gianni Lombard(28)

Benetton Rugby

1Thomas Gallo(27)
2Bautista Bernasconi(25)
3Simone Ferrari(32)
4Niccolò Cannone(28)
5Eli Snyman(30)
6Manuel Zuliani(26)
7Michele Lamaro(28)
8Alessandro Izekor(26)
9Andy Uren(30)
10Jacob Umaga(28)
11Ignacio Mendy(26)
12Leonardo Marin(24)
13Tommaso Menoncello(24)
14Louis Lynagh(25)
15Rhyno Christo Smith(33)