Watch VideoIvan van Rooyen’s ‘LIV Golf’ vision for Lions as URC play-off dream nears

Ivan van Rooyen, right, has been inspired by the LIV Golf spectacle this past weekend and wants to bring that same “big event” energy to the Lions. Photo: Backpagepix The day before theLions beat Edinburgh 54-17 at Ellis Park, Ivan van Rooyen visited theLIV golf tournament at Steyn City. He says he was wide-eyed and inspired by the scale of the well-supported extravaganza put on by Johannesburg.

“I popped into the LIV golf and saw what an event like that could do for the city,” Van Rooyen said. “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. “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.” After years of struggle — the Lions have yet to make theUnited Rugby Championship (URC)play-offs — Van Rooyen has earned the right to think big.

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The form of “The Pride” suggests a litany of false dawns is behind them, and that their upward trajectory will take them beyond their victory in the SA Shield, deep into the URC play-offs, and beyond. The Lions are in seventh place on the URC log, uncharted waters for them, with five rounds to go. They have played 13, drawn one, and won seven.

Four of those victories are from their six matches against South African opposition that in every match were tipped to beat the Lions. They have comfortably won their last three matches, against the Sharks, Stormers, and Edinburgh. Van Rooyen can be forgiven for sharing some introspection after embarrassing the more-fancied local oppositionto land the SA Shield.

“For the last 20 years I have been at the (senior) Lions, but it is more like 25,” he smiled. “In 2001, I started as a Under-19 player. It would be arrogant of me to say I have gone full circle. I guess I have just been blessed to be here at different stages of my career.

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