Lions confirm signing of Junior Bok champion Batho Hlekani

The dangerous loose forward was part of the Junior Boks' successful U20 World Championship in Italy this year, where the squad returned as champions. Hlekani was contracted to the Sharks until December. He earned his first and only cap for the Sharks off the bench in a Challenge Cup outing in Lyon in April.  

The Lions were initially told that the Sharks would be holding onto the 20-year-old star until the contract ended, but negotiations seemed to have ended in favour of the Lions.

The Johannesburg outfit took to social media on Monday to announce Hlekani's signing, complete with a clip of his destructive running for the Junior Boks.

This is great news for the Lions, who have lost the services of flanker Izan Esterhuizen after he suffered a season-ending injury in the first round of the Currie Cup two weeks ago. They currently sit tied at the top of the Currie Cup table with two wins from two matches.  

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