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A real cancellation scenario is facing the 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa writes Graham Thomas for The Mirror. The eight match tour is scheduled to take place from July 03 – August 07, 2021.
The Covid-19 pandemic now sees questions being raised as to whether the tour should, or will, go ahead. The postponement of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games mean that the two sporting events are now set to clash. This may see the British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa postponed to another year.
Avoiding a clash with the Olympic Games and ensuring safety due to Covid-19 concerns are primary factors to consider. Both are connected to, and carry, financial implications for the five unions involved in the tour – England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and South Africa.
Thomas spoke to former Lions captain Phil Bennett who noted:
“I hope the people at the top of rugby can resolve the issues that are now looming because of the shutdown in the sport. But it’s no good the Lions tour going ahead if Wales, Scotland and Ireland are going to go bankrupt.”
At present there are uncertainties over the airline industry. It is unclear which carriers will survive the pandemic and whether there will be changes to the flying routes and regulations. As such getting 30,000 or more supporters from the UK and Ireland to South Africa is one concern. Another is the seating arrangements at stadiums themselves.
The loss of home internationals in 2020 see England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales all requiring ways to replace the shortfall. The threat of bankruptcy sees a real scenario being the rescheduling of home test matches in 2021, thus replacing the British & Irish Lions tour which may be suspended or played in 2022 or further in the future instead.
Argentina is scheduled to tour the UK in November. Los Pumas’ end of year tour has test matches against Scotland, England and Wales on November 07, 14 and 21. All three are now under threat due to Covid-19. Rescheduling them is a priority according to multiple British sources.
