---
title: "Sharks XV vs Lions Currie Cup preview: Confirmed lineups"
canonical: "https://readrugbyunion.com/2026/08/21/sharks-xv-lions-currie-cup-2026/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Jonny Black"
section: "News"
published: "2026-08-21T09:57:32Z"
modified: "2026-08-21T09:57:38Z"
---

# Sharks XV vs Lions Currie Cup preview: Confirmed lineups

| Home team | Sharks XV |
| --- | --- |
| Away team | Lions |
| Venue | Woodburn Stadium |
| Competition | Currie Cup |
| Kick-off time | 6:15 pm (UK) 7:15 pm (SA) |
| Watch Live in the UK | Sky Sports |

Sharks XV vs Lions Currie Cup preview as the sides meet in round six of the competition. Both sides have the same record after five games, with two wins from their five games. The Lions are ahead of the Sharks in the table with 13 points, while the Sharks sit on 10 points.

Read more match previews for all your rugby action [here](https://readrugbyunion.com/matchpreviews/)

## Sharks XV vs Lions confirmed lineups

- **Sharks XV** · **Lions**
- **Forwards**
- Kubheka · **1** · Schoeman
- Van Wyk · **2** · Combrinck
- Ngobese · **3** · Van Vuuren
- Momsen · **4** · Qoma
- Slabbert · **5** · Hattingh
- Smit · **6** · Biyela
- Barnard · **7** · Cairns
- Mavesere · **8** · Du Plessis
- **Backs**
- Braude · **9** · Cilliers
- Swiel · **10** · Francis
- Rasivhaga · **11** · Nela
- Purchase · **12** · Jonker
- Matthews · **13** · Finca
- Grobbelaar · **14** · Smith
- Giliomee · **15** · Mentoe
- **Replacements**
- Marais · **16** · Sithole
- J Du Toit · **17** · Ntshanga
- Heunis · **18** · Dube
- Botha · **19** · Sjoblom
- Vyambwera · **20** · Gwiji
- Loots · **21** · Moos
- Masuku · **22** · Adams
- Bester · **23** · Cannon

## Recent Form:

**Sharks XV (Home team):**

| **Result** | **Date** | **Competition** | **Opponent** | **Score** |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Loss | 14th August 2026 | Currie Cup | Griquas | 55-21 |
| Won | 8th August 2026 | Currie Cup | Boland Kavaliers | 19-12 |
| Loss | 1st August 2026 | Currie Cup | Stormers XXIII | 36-28 |
| Loss | 24th July 2026 | Currie Cup | Cheetahs | 43-21 |
| Won | 17th July 2026 | Currie Cup | Pumas | 24-26 |

The Sharks suffered a heavy loss away to Griquas in round five, losing 55-21. The Sharks actually held a 21-17 lead on 38 minutes, but couldn’t get into half-time with the lead, conceding and going in 24-21 down. Griquas scored five tries in the second half; the Sharks failed to score.

**Lions (Away team):**

| **Result** | **Date** | **Competition** | **Opponent** | **Score** |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Loss | 14th August 2026 | Currie Cup | Boland Kavaliers | 29-38 |
| Loss | 8th August 2026 | Currie Cup | Griquas | 31-19 |
| Won | 1st August 2026 | Currie Cup | Blue Bulls | 42-19 |
| Won | 25th July 2026 | Currie Cup | Pumas | 52-29 |
| Loss | 19th July 2026 | Currie Cup | Cheetahs | 29-27 |

The Lions have now lost two in a row, having been at the top of the table after three rounds.

They flew out to a 17-0 lead after 14 minutes, but would concede the next four tries to be sitting 28-17 behind with 24 minutes to go. The Lions would score two more tries, with Boland scoring once in between to leave the Lions six points behind with seven minutes to go. Boland kicked a penalty in the final play to deny the Lions a bonus point.

## Sharks XV vs Lions head-to-head record (last five matches):

| Date | Competition | Winner | Score |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 26th July 2025 | Currie Cup | Lions | 46-5 |
| 21st September 2024 | Currie Cup Playoffs | Sharks | 14-16 |
| 3rd June 2023 | Currie Cup | Sharks | 29-21 |
| 1st April 2023 | Currie Cup | Lions | 34-22 |
| 4th June 2022 | Currie Cup | Lions | 32-38 |

The win for the Lions against the Sharks broke a trend of close matches between these sides. The Sharks had won two meetings before that, while the Lions had won two in a row before that.