Jason Leonard still hopeful South Africa will admit British & Irish Lions fans

The British & Irish Lions chairman, Jason Leonard, says he still hopes some northern hemisphere-based fans will be able to follow this summer’s scheduled tour to South Africa. Leonard has conceded, however, that the situation remains “fluid” and the tour could yet be derailed should the Covid-19 outlook worsen.

With the Lions squad set to be named in less than five weeks, the clock is ticking, and the Lions are waiting for the South African government to decide if crowds can be safely allowed to attend games.

“I’m talking to you now and it could have all changed again by Monday,” Leonard said. “That is the issue everyone has at this moment, in the world we’re living in.

“We’re hoping there will be crowds – and we would hope that would be UK and Ireland fans as well – but because it’s so fluid we can’t say at this moment in time. We’re hoping as we move down the line that could well be possible. Everyone involved would obviously love fans in the stadium.”

Leonard has also made clear the trip will look very different from a traditional Lions adventure, particularly if players are required to spend lengthy periods in biosecure bubbles and cannot venture far beyond their hotels. “On some of my tours, there’s one or two players I wouldn’t have minded being locked up in a hotel,” Leonard joked.

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“In my experience as a player you’d play, say, the Stormers in Cape Town then go out afterwards for a few beers down the Waterfront. That won’t be happening, or popping out to a braai. We’ll have to comply with the medical and scientific advice given us. If that cuts short some of our activities, we have to do it. The alternative is no Lions tour and a Lions tour with no fans is better than no tour at all for a diehard Lion like me.

“I wouldn’t say anything is 100% nailed on at this moment in time. But the England cricket team travelled to India not that long ago and Pakistan are coming to South Africa.

“We’ve got these bio environments where, if everyone follows the rules, you’re hoping you’ll be able to get a tour away.”

source: theguardian.com