Lions legend Asenathi Ntlabakanye extends stay in Johannesburg

The heavyweight - fast becoming a folk hero in South Africa - ended speculation that he was headed to France when he took to social media to reveal his new contract.

"I'm here to stay! This means a lot to me," captioned the former Junior Bok.

"Having been part of the Lions family since my school days, and now getting the opportunity to stay for a few more years is incredibly special to me.

"To all the Lions fans - I look forward to seeing a whole lot more of you at Emirates Airline Park."

French giants Toulouse were rumoured to be circling around the Ntlabakanye, but his new contract will see the 25-year-old stay with the Lions until at least 2028.

Since being signed in 2020, the Plettenberg Bay native has earned 57 caps for the Lions.

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