Having missed out on bringing Ruan Ackermann back to Ellis Park, the Lions now have a promising Bulls loose forward in their sights.

The Lions are expecting to lose Emmanuel Tshituka to the Sharks next season and are on the hunt for a new back-row enforcer.

Ackermann, who started his career in Johannesburg and was part of the Lions team that hosted the Super Rugby final in 2017, was in talks for a return to Ellis Park, but this week made a surprise U-turn by signing a new contract with Gloucester.

According to Sunday newspaper Rapport, the Lions have turned their attention to Vodacom Bulls flank WJ Steenkamp.

The 23-year-old, who made his URC debut for the Bulls in February 2022, has found himself in a long queue of flanks in Pretoria, including Marco van Staden, Marcell Coetzee, Nizaam Carr, Elrigh Louw, Cameron Hanekom and Mpilo Gumede.

Steenkamp has yet to play in the 2023-24 season and, although negotiations with the Lions are ongoing, the Bulls are resigned to losing him.

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