Lions welcome back injured trio for maiden Champions Cup campaign

Head coach Ivan van Rooyen has named 30 players for the three-week European tour, comprising 18 forwards and 12 backs, as the Johannesburg side look to put their heavy United Rugby Championship defeat to the Bulls behind them.

Mills, who has been sidelined since March, is in contention for his first appearance of the season, while utility back Cronje and lock Oosthuizen have recovered from their respective injuries.

However, the Lions will be without prop Sebastian Lombard, who injured his ankle during Saturday's 57-15 defeat at Loftus Versfeld.

Springbok prop Boan Venter, scrumhalf Morne van den Berg, fullback Quan Horn and loose forward Sikhumbuzo Notshe are among the notable selections. Notshe could make his Lions debut after previous stints with the Stormers and Sharks, as well as French club Montauban.

Captain Francke Horn will lead a squad that also features Henco van Wyk, JC Pretorius, Nico Steyn, Batho Hlekani, Siba Mahashe and Chris Smith. Young back Ethan Adams is set for his first taste of European competition.

The Lions head to France needing a response after a disappointing performance against the Bulls, having previously beaten Leinster and the Ospreys in the URC.

Their opening assignment is against former European champions La Rochelle at Stade Marcel-Deflandre, with the sides meeting for the first time.

The Lions will then remain on tour for URC matches against Edinburgh on 23 October and Glasgow Warriors on 30 October, before returning to Champions Cup action in December.

They host six-time European champions Toulouse at Ellis Park on 12 December, travel to face Saracens on 10 January and conclude their Pool 2 campaign at home against Exeter Chiefs on 16 January. Connacht complete the group of opponents.

The Lions qualified for the Champions Cup for the first time after last season's campaign, having previously struggled to make a significant impact in the Challenge Cup, where they reached the quarter-finals only once.

They now face a demanding introduction to Europe's top-tier competition, with Saturday's encounter offering an early opportunity to measure themselves against established continental opposition.