Lions are heading to South Africa but all matches may be at altitude

htourists reassured by talks as work starts on safe schedule hjohannesburg and Pretoria lined up as biosecure bases

The British and Irish Lions may have to play all eight matches, including three Tests against the Springboks, at altitude in Johannesburg and Pretoria, after agreement was finally reached that the tour to South Africa should proceed this summer.

Telegraph Sport broke the news online yesterday that the green light had been given for the tour to go ahead, despite the challenges of the pandemic and likelihood that the matches would have to be played behind closed doors, after the contingency plan to relocate the tour to the UK and Ireland was shelved.

Negotiations between Lions executives and their South African counterparts were finally concluded after a lunchtime meeting yesterday, as the South African Rugby Union provided assurances that it would still be able to host the tour.

The Lions board had already declined an offer from Rugby Australia to relocate the tour Down Under, where there is almost zero community transmission of Covid19, and with no other options available, the SARU was told that unless it was able to host the tour, it would have to be postponed until 2025.

Work will now begin to review the schedule, with many challenges still to overcome to ensure the tour can proceed safely.

Sources have indicated that it is likely to mean the Lions being based in Johannesburg and Pretoria to reduce travel costs, and the costs of creating multiple biosecure bubbles across eight locations in the original schedule if the matches have to be played behind closed doors.

That could mean tour matches

are staged at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit, the Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria, and Ellis Park and Soccer City stadiums in Johannesburg.

The Lions had been due to play the second Test in Cape Town, with early tour games there and in Port Elizabeth and Durban.

Other sources in South Africa have indicated they are optimistic local crowds may be able to attend matches by July given the current low rates of infection, which would likely mean a different schedule.

It is understood the Lions management, however, will now begin discussions about their preferences if the original schedule is revised.

“I think it is great that South Africa have now come back to us and confirmed they can definitely

do it,” said Bill Sweeney, the Rugby Football Union chief executive, who is also on the Lions board.

“It was always the preference to be able to honour the tour in South Africa. You would always want it to be with crowds rather than behind closed doors, but things change quickly. Who knows?”

Sweeney said that the safety of the players would be paramount in discussions. “We just have to work with South Africa and make sure they have got the right environments there,” he said. “We have to make sure the players’ health and welfare is absolutely of a level we can accept.”

It is understood that the UK and Ireland option was ruled out by the Lions board at a meeting late last week because of time, logistics and cost reasons and the uncertainty created by crowds being able to attend matches.

The Lions had approached CSM, the sport and entertainment agency, who already look after some of their commercial contracts, about providing the resources to event-manage the project, but the costs were prohibitive without a government underwrite.

Uncertainty, however, remains over the Lions supporters who have already booked travel packages, with over 30,000 originally expected to follow the tour. Lions

Rugby Travel, the official travel agent, is offering full refunds for those who have booked, with other options being sent out next week.

Mark Alexander, president of SA Rugby, confirmed the tour was subject to a review. “There are serious financial implications for SA Rugby should the event take place without any supporters in attendance, and we cannot ignore that in our considerations,” he said.

“But we are determined the outcome will deliver the best occasion and experience for players, supporters and our commercial partners.”