Lions announce contracted squad

Johannesburg - The Golden Lions Rugby Union has announced the final signings of players for the 2015 season.

The Lions had a decent 2014, winning seven Super Rugby matches and reaching the Currie Cup final, before narrowly losing to Western Province at Newlands.

The improvement in form will also see the union earn a new major sponsorship deal, expected to be announced later on Thursday.

The Lions will open their 2015 Super Rugby campaign at home to the Hurricanes on Friday, February 13.

Senior contracted players for 2015 - via the Lions' official website:

Justin Ackerman
Fabian Booysen
Marnitz Boshoff (Springboks 2014)
Andries Coetzee
Robbie Coetzee (Springbok Touring Squad)
Ruan Combrink
Ross Cronje (Springbok Touring Squad)
Ashlon Davids
JJ de Kock
Stefan de Witt
Ruan Dreyer (Springbok Touring Squad)
JP du Plessis
Damian Engledoe
Lourens Erasmus
JR Esterhuizen
Selom Gavor
Lambert Groenewald
Stokkies Hanekom
Deon Helberg
Alwyn Hollenbach
Lohan Jacobs
Elton Jantjies
Jaco Kriel (Springbok Touring Squad)
Ruaan Lerm
Mb Lusaseni
Lionel Mapoe
Devon  Marthinus (On Loan to Leopards)
Sampie Mastriet
Derek Minnie
Howard Mnisi
Franco Mostert
Tyson Mulamba
Martin Muller
Jacques Nel
Mark Pretorius
Julian Redelinghuys (Springboks 2014)
Mark Richards
Ricky Schroeder
Courtnall Skosan
Albertus Smith (SA Sevens)
Warwick Tecklenburg
Armand van der Merwe
Schalk van der Merwe
Schalk van Heerden
Ruan van Rensburg (On loan to Leopards)
Jacques Van Rooyen
Ruan Venter
Anthony Volminck
Harold Vorster
Willie Wepener
Warren Whiteley (Springbok 2014/Springbok Sevens Gold Medal Commonwealth)
Vainon Willis
Corne Fourie (On loan from Pumas)
Faf de Klerk (On loan from Pumas)
Rudi Matthee (On loan from Pumas)
Stefan Watermeyer (On loan from Pumas)
Obi Luther (On loan from Leopards)
Mahuza Sylvian (On loan from Leopards)
Robbertse Francois (On loan from Leopards)