Lions may host Boks in bid to get series played amid growing pandemic fears
THE Lions could host South Africa on home soil in a contingency plan to ensure the 2021 rugby series goes ahead, according to reports,
This summer’s tour has been plunged into doubt amid concerns about Covid-19, and Lions bosses are set to hold talks as far as into February to decide the tour’s fate.
Cases are escalating in both countries.
South Africa is still months away from rolling out a vaccine, and filling stadiums to bring in much-needed revenue is a priority.
The Daily Mail reports that the home unions are open to the “lucrative” options of playing the Tests in the UK and dividing the revenue up with South Africa, but that plan would hinge on whether or not full crowds can return to UK stadiums.
The 2021 trip is hanging in the balance amid calls for it to be postponed.
A new strain of Covid-19 has been discovered in both parts of the world and, unless the situation improves with haste, the tour is unlikely to go ahead as scheduled.
The prospect of playing matches without fans is not one that organisers will entertain, with 30,000 fans expected to make the journey from these shores to the home of the world champions.
Meetings will take place throughout January to determine whether or not the tour can take place in July and August this year.
“As you would expect, we are progressing with our plans based on the latest information available to us,” said Ben Calveley, the British and Irish Lions managing
director.
“However, given the uncertainty that continues to be caused by the coronavirus pandemic both in South Africa, as well as the UK and Ireland, we are very aware of the need to make a timely decision on the best way forward, not least so that we can provide clarity to supporters booked to travel to South Africa next summer, or those thinking of making the trip.
“To date, the Lions board has had repeated meetings to discuss all scenarios available and is in constant dialogue. It will meet throughout January and into February, if required, to review all relevant information and data.
“After further consultation with SA Rugby, we will update on the outcome of these meetings in due course.
“In the meantime, we continue regular discussion with our partners in the UK, Ireland and South Africa, including the British High Commission in Pretoria, the Irish Embassy and various government departments, to ascertain as much information as possible on this fast-evolving, complex situation.”
One option would be to postpone the tour by one year but that is fraught with logistical challenges.
The home nations all have tours of their own scheduled for the summer of 2022 and the prospect of cramming more matches into that hectic schedule a year out from the 2023 World Cup is unpalatable.
It would also create numerous issues for head coach Warren Gatland, who has been on a sabbatical from his day job in charge of the Chiefs to perform his duties as Lions boss.