Board must see sense and let the Lions tour

THE British and Irish Lions board simply have to resist any attempts to switch this summer’s tour of South Africa to the UK and Ireland.

We’d be tarnishing one of the great traditions in rugby if the world champions came to these shores instead.

The Lions are a touring side by definition and it would be a real shame to effectively destroy part of their history.

SRU chief executive Mark Dodson and Scotland rugby legend Gavin Hastings are members of a Lions board that is left with a huge decision to make.

Surely that pair won’t want to be part of anything that damages such a proud legacy?

Playing the Springboks behind closed doors away from home is still a far better option than playing the three-Test series over here.

Yes, the effects of coronavirus could still have a huge say on what the tour looks like, but every effort should be made to keep it in South Africa.

There’s been talk of postponing the tour for a year until the pandemic hopefully lessens, but who knows what lies ahead? It’s better to get it done this summer, Covid permitting of course.

The eight-strong Lions board met last Friday and there have been no smoke signals yet over what the final decision will be.

Contingency plans have been drawn up to host the tour in Britain and Ireland, with the South African team being flown here — along with provincial sides like the Sharks and the Bulls — and kept in Covid-free bubbles from late June.

Under these proposals, the talk is that the Tests will be played in Ireland, England and Wales. The Lions would also play the club sides at football grounds — with Villa Park and Newcastle’s St James’ Park among those mentioned.

From a Scotland perspective, there has not been a dicky bird about what would be in it for rugby fans north of the border.

The Lions were down to play Japan in a warm-up match at BT Murrayfield on Saturday, June 26, before they flew to South Africa.

If the Lions board ignore history and feel there is absolutely no choice but to force the tour to be moved to Britain and Ireland, there should be four Tests played, with one of them in Edinburgh.

But that’s a potential argument for later. Right now, everything must be done to make sure the action unfolds in South Africa.

From a players’ perspective, touring behind closed doors is a far better option than the Springboks coming here and playing against them in empty stadia.

Scotland have the likes of Stuart Hogg, Finn Russell and Hamish Watson already certainties for the squad, while others such as Jonny Gray, Jamie Ritchie and Duhan van der Merwe could join them.

It would be wrong to deprive these players — as well as their English, Welsh and Irish counterparts — of the chance of a lifetime to tour abroad with the Lions.

South Africa coming here would be a Springbok tour of Britain and Ireland and nothing more.

Let’s hope Hastings and Dodson see sense and back plans for the summer tour to go ahead as planned.