SEB’S POINT TO PROVE
Bok tour and hectic year sparks player welfare fears DRIVER CHANGES GOLF THE OPEN
THE British and Irish Lions have been given the go-ahead to tour South Africa next summer – sparking fresh concern for player welfare.
Weeks of uncertainty ended when organisers confirmed the eightmatch trip, culminating in three Tests against the world champion Springboks, will take place as originally scheduled.
Both parties had been prepared to push the tour back into the autumn if it freed up a summer slot for global rugby to at least make a start on repairing its precarious financial situation. But with club and country unable to agree on a route out of Covid crisis, the Lions have chosen to go ahead as planned, starting in Cape Town on July 3 and running through to August 7, when the final Test is staged at Ellis Park.
The fortnightlong series clashes directly with the Olympics but of greater concern to players will be that it leaves next to no time for rest from the moment the English Premiership resumes next month.
Earlier this week former England star Freddie Burns launched a scathing attack on rugby bosses (above) over the ‘brutal’ Premiership
SEBASTIAN VETTEL is set for a shock move to Aston Martin next year after being shown the door by Ferrari.
The four-time world champion has been searching for a seat after Ferrari chose not to extend his deal beyond this season.
And Vettel is now expected to replace Mexican Sergio Perez at Racing Point, which will be rebranded as Aston Martin for demands being imposed on the country’s stars.
He condemned as “madness” the revised schedule, which sees clubs play seven times in 28 days in order to finish this campaign in time to start the next one less than a month later.
“Player welfare is a term we hear a lot about,” said the Japan-bound fly-half. “But I don’t think it’s quite backed up by anyone in the game.”
Elite players in England are limited to 30 full games – or 35 match 2021. If the move comes off Vettel will partner Canadian Lance Stroll, whose billionaire father Lawrence Stroll has ploughed almost £200million into the project.
Landing Vettel (above) would be a massive coup for the new Aston Martin team, and they will be banking on the German, 33, recapturing the blistering form he showed in his years with Red Bull. ‘involvements’ of 20 minutes or more – under the agreement between clubs, country and players’ union.
Yet the top players face the prospect of up to five Tests in the autumn and a Six Nations Championship in the spring. Add to that two European Cups and one and a half domestic league campaigns before the Lions even set off and there are tough conversations looming.
Days after Premiership Rugby boss Darren Childs claimed “every single club is on board and totally supportive” with the schedule, Damian Hopley revealed that the players’ union he leads are still discussing the small print.
Whatever the state of the Lions when they finally assemble, South Africa has vowed to lay on a “once-in-a-lifetime” experience for their fans - while challenging home supporters to “ensure the army of red does not dwarf our sea of green and gold.”
Seven players and two non-playing staff, from a pool of 856, have tested positive in Premiership Rugby’s second round of Covid testing.
RORY’S OPEN TRAUMA
Woods can’t make up for the fact golf’s focus should have been on Royal St George’s this week. McIlroy (left) said: “Being where we’re from The Open is the biggest golf tournament in the world. It’s a huge sporting occasion every summer, one that means an awful lot, and the fact it’s not on has put a dampener on things.”