WE WON’T HELP LIONS
English clubs demand shorter tours
ENGLISH Premiership clubs are blocking attempts to retain a 10-match schedule for the British and Irish Lions. Sportsmail has learned that negotiations have been ongoing in a bid to prevent the tours being cut to eight games over five weeks rather than the current six weeks.
This marginalising of the Lions was agreed in principle at a meeting of international stakeholders in San Francisco in January last year as part of the drive towards an integrated global season from 2020.
Despite 11th-hour talks aimed at forcing a rethink on the proposed changes to the Lions tours, sources have indicated that Premiership clubs are refusing to make any concessions to allow the Lions to play 10 fixtures when they visit South Africa in 2021.
Mark McCafferty, Premiership Rugby’s chief executive, has repeatedly outlined his organisation’s refusal to make any allowances in spite of the Lions vast, popular appeal and their positive impact on the sport.
Even though there is the prospect of no significant league and Test fixture clashes from 2020, Premiership Rugby Limited (PRL) will not consider scrapping their play-offs — not even every four years — to assist the Lions.
Even financial incentives have not worked in breaking this impasse. Sources have indicated that the Lions would receive a greater share of profits generated by their 2021 tour in return for the trip staying at 10 games.
Funds would then be available to compensate the clubs and leagues for lost income in the event of scrapping play-offs.
In contrast, the Pro14 League — featuring the top teams from Wales, Scotland and Ireland — are open to the idea of rejigging their schedules to free up additional space.
There was widespread anger at the culmination of last year’s epic tour to New Zealand when it became apparent the Lions had not been sufficiently represented or defended at the carveup summit in San Francisco.
Sportsmail understands that the global season revolution is nearing completion following meetings in Dublin earlier this month and should be ready to be ratified in London in mid-May.
That is when a new, 12-year plan for the Lions will be officially discussed with SANZAAR — the governing body for the main southern hemisphere unions.
Much of the global overhaul has been widely anticipated.
Summer tours to the south will start a few weeks later than has been the norm and run into July each year, while there is still a chance the Six Nations window could be pushed back a week or two.
In a triumph for player power and welfare, Premiership campaigns will begin in late September, after a controversial, failed attempt by PRL to force through a gruelling, 11-month season structure.
It is understood the AngloWelsh Cup will be scrapped but it is not yet clear what will take its place. English clubs are believed to have been courting South African provinces, with a view to a new tournament, but nothing has been agreed as yet.