All July rugby tours on hold

While the Lions have been rocked by the departure of several of their stars, the future of South African rugby has been cast in more uncertainty with the postponement of the Springboks’ July Tests against Scotland and Georgia.

The Tests were due to take place on July 4 in Cape Town, July 11 in Durban (both against Scotland) and July 18 in Port Elizabeth (against Georgia).

World Rugby announced yesterday, however, that the programme of international rugby matches during the July window had been postponed due to ongoing government and health agency Covid-19 directives.

“Any solution will have player health, welfare and appropriate return-to-play protocols at heart,” said SA Rugby chief executive Jurie Roux.

“It would be inappropriate to comment on potential solutions during a fluid and important consultation process.”

All decision-making around future matches would be entirely contingent on national government travel, quarantine and health advice, due to important player welfare and hosting considerations, according to rugby officials.

Deepening the crisis, the Lions announced the departure of four players and an assistant coach at the end of a 21-day period in which they were allowed to exit their current contracts.

The departing players included hooker Malcolm Marx (above), lock Ruan Vermaak, fullback Tyrone Green and flyhalf Shaun Reynolds, along with backline coach Neil de Bruin.

These moves came in the wake of centre Johnny Kotze leaving the Bulls, and fullback Dillyn Leyds, prop Wilco Louw and lock Cobus Wiese leaving the Stormers.

Flyhalf Jean-luc du Plessis was also linked to an overseas move, along with Sharks wing Makazole Mapimpi, who may join Docomo Red Hurricanes.