British and Irish Lions managing director Ben Calveley has expressed his gratitude to South African rugby for concluding the deal for the Castle Lager Lion Series tour of South Africa next year.
Speaking on live-streaming from London, Calveley said they were looking forward to the trip as they have done in the past years and hoped fans would get their money’s worth of Test rugby. “We hope to fill the stadiums if fans will be allowed then under the current Covid-19 conditions,” Calveley added.
Although the Lions tour every 12 years, Calveley said the series was one of those items on their calendar that brought much excitement, not just to the players but to the fans as well.
“We also welcome Castle Lager on aboard again in the form of sponsorship for the tour and are delighted that they have made such a significant commitment to the tour which affirms the brand’s commitment to the upliftment of sport in South Africa.”
Jurie Roux, CEO of SA Rugby, said the new partnership for the upcoming tour represented a hat-trick for South African Breweries as they now have been series partners for all three British and Irish Lions tours to South Africa, first under the Lion Lager brand in 1997, and with Castle Lager for 2009 and the coming 2021 tour.
“It’s a tribute to their enduring support for South African rugby and also to the appeal of the sport and of a tour by the British and Irish Lions. The first two professional series to South Africa were epic events that entranced the rugby-loving nation. I am sure next year’s edition will be the same,” Roux added.
The series kicks off on 3 July next year until 7 August.
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