Planning for the British & Irish Lions’ tour of South Africa in 2021 remains in high gear, SA Rugby Jurie Roux said.
Roux said a decision to host the tour later in the year was being considered to fall in line with all other Test scheduling debates that were taking place at the level of the sport’s governing body, World Rugby.
“The development of the pandemic and its varying impact around the world has made for a fluid situation and we have had to be responsive in our planning,” Roux said.
Given the disruptions occasioned by COVID-19, the Lions have expressed their openness to moving the tour to September or October next year to avoid a clash with the Olympics and fit in with a new global rugby calendar which is expected to be published after the pandemic.
Roux added that a number of scenarios and contingencies were in place regarding any rescheduling of the highly-anticipated tour.
“…the main question now is when it will be safe for international travel and for mass gatherings. It would be a disappointment if a Lions series had to be played behind closed doors, but that is not a scenario for which we are currently planning.”
The British & Irish Lions are scheduled to play three Test matches against the reigning World Champions South Africa in 2021 in addition to five other matches across six different locations, between July 3 and August 7.
The Lions tour is highly regarded by players from the opposition, just as it is by those selected from England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland, and they take immense pride in being selected for and playing in those games.
