British and Irish Lions Tour latest
The next biggest question surrounds fan attendance.
Just when it was increasingly starting to look like the 2021 British and Irish Lions tour would be taken away from the country in favour of the UK, the Lions Board and SA Rugby have extinguished all doubt and confirmed on March 23 that the tour is still going ahead.
The biggest question now is whether the government will allow fans to go to stadiums when the Lions kick off their tour against the Stormers in Cape Town on July 3. It’s a question that is yet to be answered pending SA Rugby’s negotiations with the country’s powers that be.
It will be a decision that is set to also affect the schedule of the tour, which is subject to change if fans will not be allowed in stadiums, according to SA Rugby president Mark Alexander.
Also Read: SA Rugby, British & Irish Lions agree 2021 tour goes ahead
The country’s rugby governing body also ensured fans who have already purchased tickets that they will be refunded should they not be allowed to go and see the games live.
The biggest factor here, however, which is the news that the tour will still go ahead in the country, arrives courtesy of the good relationship the Lions Board and SA Rugby seem to share – aided by both parties’ willingness to explore every option possible to make the 2021 tour to South Africa a reality.
“After reviewing information relating to the various contingency scenarios being considered, I can confirm that the board’s intended position is for the tour to go ahead as scheduled in South Africa in 2021,” confirmed the chairperson of the British and Irish Lions, Jason Leonard.
“We acknowledge that there is a significant amount of work still to be undertaken to deliver a robust Covid-19 countermeasure plan to ensure a successful, safe and uninterrupted tour. SA Rugby will have our full support to help implement this plan.”
Alexander responded: “We appreciate the Lions’ faith and share their desire to see a safe and successful tour.
“We have been in regular contact with our government to make that a reality against the backdrop of the pandemic and its predicted progression over the coming months.”
Also Read: This will be Covid-19’s biggest blow
