Cracks in talks threaten Lions tour
EMERGENCY negotiations to salvage the Lions tour are in danger of being undermined by self-interest, as opposition to various contingency options quickly emerged yesterday.
The 2021 British and Irish campaign in South Africa is facing the threat of Covid disruption, as first reported by Sportsmail last Saturday. While organisers have not yet given up all hope of staging the eight- match event in i ts scheduled slot this July and August — following a warm-up match against Japan at Murrayfield in late June — there is a growing realisation that it is unlikely to proceed as planned due to the pandemic.
A decision is set to be made by early next month on whether to press ahead or make alternative arrangements. However, it is already clear that there will be considerable resistance to any of the fall-back scenarios.
Postponing the tour by 12 months is understood to be the preferred option for the South African authorities, who regard playing fixtures in empty stadia there this summer as unviable.
But one home unions source swiftly cast doubt on that contingency, telling Sportsmail: ‘The Lions will go ahead or be cancelled.’ When pressed about shifting to 2022, the source added: ‘It can’t happen.. Countries will not release players. Tours are in place (next year).’
Ireland have an end-of-season series in New Zealand next year, while England are due to play three Tests in Australia.
Another source described that factor as a ‘problem’ and revealed t hat t he option of moving matches from South Africa to Britain and Ireland ‘is possible’, adding ‘cash is king’ — to emphasise the financial aspect of the contingency planning.
If the Lions were to play a Test series at home, it would be a last resort which would not involve the same level of preparation as is currently lined up; five pre-series tour games.
As rights-holding broadcasters, Sky Sports will have a significant say in the negotiations. Sportsmail understands that, in principle, they would not oppose any attempt to postpone the tour until 2022, but switching to home f i xtures is r e garded as a ‘non-starter’.
There has been speculation in recent days that postponing the Lions tour could create a window this summer which would make sense for the forthcoming Six Nations to occupy, in order to increase the prospect of having crowds – after several more months of Covid vaccination programmes. But there is no appetite among the home unions to explore this idea.
European club organisers EPCR confirmed last night that no clubs have officially indicated ‘ any intention not to fulfil their remaining fixtures in the 2020-21 season’, in response to Bayonne and other French sides threatening a boycott over Covid concerns.
Meanwhile, Leinster have confirmed that Rhys Ruddock is available for selection for Friday’s Pro14 clash with Ulster.
Jordan Larmour (left) is back in training after a shoulder injury but a decision has not been made on his participation at the weekend. Others still being assessed are Ciarán Frawley (hamstring), Josh Murphy ( calf), Jimmy O’Brien (shoulder) and Rory O’Loughlin (shoulder) and Harry Byrne (back).
Johnny Sexton and Scott Penny are both undergoing the return to play protocols following head injury assessments in Saturday’s defeat to Connacht.