(UTV| SOUTH AFRICA) – The British and Irish Lions plan to tour South Africa this summer after rejecting contingency options of staging the matches elsewhere.
The possibility of switching the tour to Britain and Ireland or hosting it in Australia had been raised as the Covid pandemic continues to hamper sport.
However, the Lions hope to press ahead with the original itinerary.
“The Board’s intended position is for the Tour to go ahead as scheduled ,” said Lions chairman 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.”
Mark Alexander, SA Rugby president, admitted that the original schedule, which includes five warm-up matches against provincial teams, an invitational side and second-string South Africa A before the three Test series, could be changed.