Lions move to secure more preparation time
Longer lead-in to first game proposed Tours down to five weeks from 2021
The British and Irish Lions board are determined to ensure that the new global season does not impinge on their desire for tours to gain more preparation time at the end of the domestic campaign.
The board met yesterday to discuss the proposal from the global season talks in January that Lions tours from 2021 would be condensed from 10 games to eight. The plan under discussion is that tours would also be shortened from six weeks to five, but the Lions board wants to secure up to two weeks of preparation.
It has been a constant gripe from former Lions head coaches that they needed more time before the first game to allow players to recover from the physical demands of the domestic season, and also to bond.
That may mean the first Saturday game under the current format is scrapped, and possibly even the first midweek game as well, to give the Lions at least around 10 days to prepare together. The Lions, however, are understood to be keen to scrap the midweek fixture ahead of the first Test, so a compromise could mean losing just the first Saturday fixture, which would at least give the tourists a full week to prepare for their first game.
This season, the Lions will depart for New Zealand fewer than three days after the domestic finals on May 27, and play their first match four days later, against a Provincial Union Team in Whangarei on June 3.
It is understood that yesterday’s deliberations will be communicated to the unions, clubs and provinces to secure agreement, with a final decision expected be- fore Warren Gatland names his squad on April 19.
“We were very encouraged to receive confirmation that as part of the international calendar there is a commitment to the future of the British and Irish Lions,” said Tom Grace, the Lions chairman. “The schedule was discussed, including ensuring that the team is suitably prepared. Those discussions will continue.”