BRITISH & IRISH LIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA THROWN TO THE LIONS

Bok tour and hectic year sparks player welfare fears

THE British and Irish Lions have been given the go-ahead to tour South Africa next summer – sparking fresh concern for player welfare.

Weeks of uncertainty ended when organisers confirmed the eightmatch trip, culminating in three Tests against the world champion Springboks, will take place as originally scheduled.

Both parties had been prepared to push the tour back into the autumn if it freed up a summer slot for global rugby to at least make a start on repairing its precarious

financial situation.

But with club and country unable to agree on a route out of Covid crisis, the Lions have chosen to go ahead as planned, starting in Cape Town on July 3 and running through to August 7, when the final Test is staged at Ellis Park.

The fortnightlong series clashes directly with the Olympics but of greater concern to players will be that it leaves next to no time for rest from the moment the English Premiership resumes next month.

Earlier this week former England star Freddie Burns launched a scathing attack on rugby bosses (above) over the ‘brutal’ Premiership demands being imposed on the country’s stars.

He condemned as “madness” the revised schedule, which sees clubs play seven times in 28 days in order to finish this campaign in time to start the next one less than a month later.

“Player welfare is a term we hear a lot about,” said the Japan-bound fly-half. “But I don’t think it’s quite backed up by anyone in the game.”

Elite players in England are limited to 30 full games – or 35 match ‘involvements’ of 20 minutes or more – under the agreement between clubs, country and players’ union.

Yet the top players face the prospect of up to five Tests in the autumn and a Six Nations Championship in the spring. Add to that two European Cups and one and a half domestic league campaigns before the Lions even set off and there are tough conversations looming.

Days after Premiership Rugby boss Darren Childs claimed “every single club is on board and totally supportive” with the schedule, Damian Hopley revealed that the players’ union he leads are still discussing the small print.

Whatever the state of the Lions when they finally assemble, South Africa has vowed to lay on a “once-in-a-lifetime” experience for their fans - while challenging home supporters to “ensure the army of red does not dwarf our sea of green and gold.”

Maro Itoje leads the Lions off after beating the All Blacks in 2017 Seven players and two non-playing staff, from a pool of 856, have tested positive in Premiership Rugby’s second round of Covid testing.

CARL FRAMPTON has been reassured he will still get a world title shot this year despite opponent Jamel Herring’s coronavirus woe. WBO superfeatherweight champion Herring has now had two fights postponed due to positive tests for Covid-19. Both the American and Frampton are due to have behind-closeddoors summer bouts to keep busy while they wait for crowds to return to arenas for their clash. But Herring’s plans have been thrown up in the air again after his bout with Jonathan Oquendo in Las Vegas was cancelled. He still intends to fight in August and Bob Arum, who promotes both fighters, insists Frampton will still get his shot this year. He said: “We were greatly saddened when Jamel Herring tested positive for Covid-19. “We expect not only him back in the ring in August, but also Carl Frampton. If they’re both victorious, we will attempt to match them against each other in the fourth quarter of 2020.” Herring also had a fight delayed in June because of a positive Covid-19 test. The American, who has no symptons of the virus, said: “I quarantined and recovered as directed by my doctor. “I then retested on July 3rd and my test