The Lions have seemingly won the battle to have Junior Springbok flank Batho Hlekani released early from his contract with the Sharks.

It had been reported that Hlekani would join the Lions after the Currie Cup, in time for the start of their 2025/2026 Vodacom URC campaign, but Sharks chief operating officer Novashni Chetty made the union’s position clear to Rugby365: “Batho is contracted to us until 31 December.”

ALSO: Sharks play hardball with Batho

After the first round of the Currie Cup, Lions coach Mzwakhe Nkosi signalled his intention to ask for Hlekani’s early release from the Sharks due to injuries in the squad, but up until now it had seemed the Sharks were playing hardball. Hlekani played for the Sharks in their 2024 Currie Cup title-winning campaign and was named in their 2025 squad.

But the Ellis Park outfit released a 40-second video on X with the caption “Introducing Junior World Champion Batho Hlekani”, hinting that agreements had been reached at boardroom level.

Introducing Junior World champion Batho Hlekani.#LionsPride🦁 pic.twitter.com/pkfcg9pg3l

— Lions (@LionsRugbyCo) August 4, 2025

The 20-year-old loose forward is currently in camp with the Springboks as reward for a stellar campaign in the Junior Boks’ World Rugby U20 Championship triumph in Italy, but should be released from the squad at the weekend. It remains to be seen then whether he’ll immediately link up with the Lions’ Currie Cup squad.

Photo: Timothy Rogers/Getty Images