NZ Rugby, RA should eye Lions tour
New Zealand Rugby and its Australian counterparts should be ready to pounce if the British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa falls through.
While the coronavirus pandemic seems under control in New Zealand at least, it continues to run rampant in South Africa, so much so that the Lions’ tour to the country in July is in doubt.
Lionsmanaging director Ben Calveley said the Lions board would monitor the situation before making a final decision.
UK newspaper the Daily Telegraph reported the tour ‘‘has been plunged into doubt’’ while The Times claimed ‘‘the prospects look bleak’’ and the Daily Mail said ‘‘the outlook for the tour appears to have deteriorated alarmingly in the last fortnight’’.
South Africa has registered more than 1.1 million coronavirus cases, with nearly 30,000 deaths.
There is possible light at the end of the tunnelwith vaccines coming, but it’s unknown how much of an impact they will make by July.
It’s not a case of taking advantage of the dire situation in South Africa, but theNew Zealand and Australian Rugby unions could look to come together to provide an alternative option.
The Lions could instead make a short tour to the two countries, playing one or two tests against each nation. Outside theWorld Cup, a Lions tour is the biggest event inworld rugby and brings a huge amount ofmoney into the sport.
If the tour to South Africa can’t happen, then a plan to come to New Zealand and Australia is worth looking at.
An option being discussed in the UK is for the tour to be held in England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland – no doubt the four home unionswould be licking their lips at the financial implications of that.
But by doing this, it messes up the sequence of South Africa, Australia and New Zealand hosting a tour every 12 years and there’s also the uncertainty of whether the tests would be able to be played in front of crowds.
So rather than the tour being put back a year, or four, or being held in the UK, NZ rugby boss Mark Robinson and his Australia counterpart, AndyMarinos, should work out a plan.
Of course, there are already plans in place for the All Blacks and Wallabies this year.
Italy are playing two tests in New Zealand and Fiji one, while there are reports Australia are down to play two tests against Wales – who will be without their Lions – and one against Japan.
No disrespect to those nations – well OK, maybe a bit of disrespect – but there would be farmore interest in the All Blacks and Wallabies taking on the Lions, than these six onesided blowouts.
The Lions could do their two weeks in quarantine in New Zealand, while still training, have a couple of buildup games before playing one or two tests against the All Blacks, then head to Australia, without having to go into quarantine again. South Africa could then host the Lions in 2025, then Australia in 2029, with New Zealand taking its next turn again in 2031.