Lions vs Toulouse at Ellis Park, 12 Dec 2026

SOUTH AFRICA · RUGBY GUIDE

The Lions host Toulouse in Round 2 of the Investec Champions Cup at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Saturday 12 December 2026, with kick-off at 3 p.m. local time, which is 8 a.m. Eastern. FloRugby holds the US rights to the competition, so American fans can stream Lions vs Toulouse live in the early morning.

It is the Lions’ first season in Europe’s top club competition, and Toulouse, the six-time champions and the current French Top 14 title holders, are making their first trip to Johannesburg to play them. The Lions arrive after a 31-14 loss at La Rochelle on 17 October, played a day after the death of their lock Hyron Andrews.

We checked the date, venue and kick-off on the competition organiser’s own match page and fixture announcement on 23 October 2026. No ticket price for this match has been published, so we say below what is on sale now and what we could not confirm.

Date, Kick-Off and Venue

The organiser, European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR), lists the match as Round 2, Pool 2, on Saturday 12 December 2026 at 13:00 GMT at Ellis Park. Its pool announcement of 10 July gives the same fixture as a 15:00 local start, because South Africa is two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.

Ellis Park is at South Park Lane in New Doornfontein, Johannesburg, according to the Lions’ ticket seller Ticketpro. EPCR and Ticketpro list the ground as 10bet Ellis Park, a sponsor’s name that other sites replace with different sponsor names for the same stadium.

The Lions’ other home match in the pool is against Exeter Chiefs on Saturday 16 January 2027, according to SA Rugby magazine. The Toulouse game is their first home match in the competition, because the opener at La Rochelle was away.

A week earlier, on Saturday 5 December 2026 at 2:30 p.m., the Lions host the Bulls at the same stadium in the United Rugby Championship, the league that groups South African, Irish, Welsh, Scottish and Italian clubs. That fixture is a useful dry run for anyone who wants to test transport and parking before the Toulouse match.

Why Lions vs Toulouse Matters

The Champions Cup splits its 24 clubs into four pools of six, and each club plays four pool matches against four different opponents. The top three clubs in each pool go straight to the round of 16, FloSports says.

Pool 2 holds Toulouse, the Lions, Saracens of England, La Rochelle of France, Exeter Chiefs of England and Connacht of Ireland. After Toulouse, the Lions play at Saracens on Sunday 10 January 2027 and host Exeter on Saturday 16 January.

SA Rugby magazine calls Toulouse the Lions’ toughest assignment of the pool stage. The magazine adds that the Lions earned their place by finishing seventh on the URC log last season.

The pool stage ends on the weekend of 15 to 17 January 2027, and the final is on Saturday 22 May 2027 at OL Stadium in Lyon. Because three clubs per pool advance, one home result does not settle the pool, but it shapes the last two rounds.

The Lions After the Death of Hyron Andrews

The Lions began their Champions Cup campaign at La Rochelle on Saturday 17 October and lost 31-14, a day after the death of the lock Hyron Andrews at the age of 31. Andrews died on Friday 16 October while the squad was on tour in France, and the squad chose to play the match, according to statements from the Lions and EPCR carried by Planet Rugby.

Coach Ivan van Rooyen said the decision to play spoke to the character of the team, Planet Rugby reported. Before kick-off the crowd observed a minute’s silence, and a number 5 shirt that Andrews had worn was laid on the pitch, The Herald reported.

The Lions said on 16 October that they would announce tribute details in due course, and we do not know whether the club or the stadium will mark his memory on 12 December. Any arrangements will be announced by the club, and we will not guess at them.

Toulouse, the Visitors

Toulouse have won the Champions Cup six times and won the French Top 14 last season, Planet Rugby says. SA Rugby magazine adds that they lost to the defending champions Bordeaux-Bègles in last season’s quarter-finals before taking the French title.

Toulouse opened their pool at home against Exeter Chiefs on Sunday 18 October, and Planet Rugby calls the Johannesburg match their first-ever trip to the Lions. After it they play at Connacht in Round 3 and host Saracens in Round 4.

Which Toulouse players will travel to South Africa is not known, and clubs name match-day squads only a few days before kick-off. EPCR’s website has a line-ups section, and we found no squad listed for this match.

Tickets and Prices in US Dollars

The Lions sell home tickets through Ticketpro, whose Lions Rugby page on 23 October 2026 listed a full-season package from ZAR 950 (about US$58) and the 5 December match against the Bulls from ZAR 70 (about US$4). It showed no listing for Toulouse, so a ticket price and an on-sale date for 12 December are not confirmed.

The season-package listing does not say whether it covers European matches, so do not assume it includes Toulouse. Rand amounts here are converted at 16.50 rand per US dollar, the market rate on 23 October 2026.

Third-party resale sites already list the fixture, but we have not verified any of them and they are not the Lions’ sales channel. Buy only from the club or its ticket seller, because a ticket from an unknown seller may be refused at the gate.

For the 5 December match, Ticketpro says children under six do not need a ticket and that parking is free at the Johannesburg Athletics Stadium when you show your match ticket. Paid parking in College B or the parkade costs ZAR 100 per ticket (about US$6) and is booked through the Ellis Park ticket office, and the rules for 12 December have not been published.

How to Watch in the United States

FloRugby, the rugby streaming service of FloSports, has the US rights to the Champions Cup, according to Rugby World, and EPCR’s match data lists it as a broadcaster. Rugby World puts a monthly subscription at US$39.99 and an annual one at US$155.88, so check the price at sign-up.

The match starts at 8 a.m. Eastern, 7 a.m. Central, 6 a.m. Mountain and 5 a.m. Pacific on Saturday 12 December. EPCR gives 15:00 local as 13:00 GMT, and US Eastern time is five hours behind GMT once US clocks go back on Sunday 1 November, the National Institute of Standards and Technology says.

In South Africa the competition is on SuperSport, and EPCR’s fixture data names FloRugby among its broadcasters. We found no free stream announced for this match, and Rugby World says free streams are limited to selected games in the UK and France.

Getting to Ellis Park and Staying Safe

US citizens do not need a visa for stays of 90 days or less in South Africa, the State Department says. Check passport validity and blank-page rules on its country page before you book, because entry rules can change.

In the advisory we read on 23 October 2026, the State Department lists South Africa at Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution, citing violent crime, kidnapping, terrorism and civil unrest. It adds that violent crime is more common in the downtown areas of big cities, especially after dark.

Ellis Park is in New Doornfontein, close to the city centre, so book a ride to and from the ground and keep phones and cash out of sight. A 3 p.m. rugby kick-off normally ends around 5 p.m., which is our estimate and not an official finish time.

Road closures and shuttle arrangements are usually announced by the club and the city in the days before a big match. We have found none for 12 December yet, so plan your own transport.

What It Means for You

A US fan can watch Lions vs Toulouse live on FloRugby at 8 a.m. Eastern, so the practical cost is a subscription and an early alarm. A US traveller in Johannesburg should wait for the Lions to open sales and buy only through the club or Ticketpro.

For the city around the match, see our Johannesburg expat city guide and What to Do in Johannesburg in October 2026. For other sport in the city, see our England vs South Africa Test guide, and for the wider picture see the Rio Times South Africa news page.

What Is Not Known

No ticket price or on-sale date for the Toulouse match has been published, and we do not know whether the Lions’ season package covers it. The stadium’s match-day parking, transport and gate rules for 12 December are also unconfirmed.

Team news, the referee and any tribute to Hyron Andrews have not been announced. We did not reach the Lions or EPCR for comment before publication, and the schedule could still change.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Lions vs Toulouse in Johannesburg?

It is on Saturday 12 December 2026 at 3 p.m. local time at Ellis Park in Johannesburg. That is 8 a.m. Eastern time in the United States.

How can I watch Lions vs Toulouse in the United States?

FloRugby has the US rights to the Champions Cup, according to Rugby World, and EPCR’s match data lists it as a broadcaster. A monthly subscription costs US$39.99, Rugby World says, so check the price at sign-up.

How much are tickets for Lions vs Toulouse?

No price has been published for this match, and Ticketpro showed no listing for it on 23 October 2026. The Lions’ other home match on 5 December starts at ZAR 70 (about US$4).

Do US citizens need a visa to see the match?

No visa is needed for stays of 90 days or less, the State Department says. Check its country page for passport rules before you book.

Sources: EPCR, Lions v Toulouse match page, Round 2; EPCR, Lions fixtures and results; Planet Rugby, pool fixtures for 2026/27, 10 July 2026; SA Rugby magazine, Champions Cup preview: Lions, 12 October 2026; SA Rugby magazine, Lions up for Champions Cup challenge, 9 October 2026; Ticketpro, Lions Rugby events; Ticketpro, Lions vs Bulls, 5 December 2026; The Herald, Lions come up short as tributes paid to Andrews, 18 October 2026; Planet Rugby, Lions confirm Hyron Andrews death, 16 October 2026; Planet Rugby, Hyron Andrews tributes, 18 October 2026; Rugby World, how to watch the Champions Cup 2026-27; FloSports, how to watch the 2026-27 Champions Cup, 7 October 2026; US State Department, South Africa travel advisory; US State Department, South Africa country information; NIST, Daylight Saving Time Rules; Exchange rate: 16.50 rand per US dollar, 23 October 2026.

This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief