2021 British & Irish Lions tour to SA
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@Rapido The England v Baa-Bass game is pretty meaningless too. Agree the BILs could do with more game time though. To be honest I was more having a pop at the idea that Premiership clubs were refusing to release players when the real story is that no agreement has been reached. No mention even of there being any discussions. Previously all England based players not involved in the Premiership final were released. I’d be very surprised if that was not the case again.
It’s just a nothing story.
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Might be 2022?
Report: Lions tour on verge of cancellation
The British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa is now in serious danger of not going ahead this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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@Machpants
How does that affect Gatland? I suppose if McMillan has a good season then he won't be missed too much, but there is the matter of his contract. -
@mofitzy_ said in 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to SA:
@Machpants
How does that affect Gatland? I suppose if McMillan has a good season then he won't be missed too much, but there is the matter of his contract.If it happens they should take back his Chiefs contract immediately and open to role for applications.
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How can it possibly go ahead?
The virus is raging up here in the NH, and the with SA strain also discovered here now in Blighty, I would say this is almost certain to be postponed/cancelled. Notwithstanding the Boks skipper also has tested postive for Covid.
How can you possibly play contact sport when the new strains are so easily transmissible?? -
@Jailbreak7 said in 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to SA:
How can it possibly go ahead?
The virus is raging up here in the NH, and the with SA strain also discovered here now in Blighty, I would say this is almost certain to be postponed/cancelled. Notwithstanding the Boks skipper also has tested postive for Covid.
How can you possibly play contact sport when the new strains are so easily transmissible??I was thinking the same. The vaccination programme in the UK will probably extend to the players by July but I can't see sufficient visiting fans getting insurance to visit SA to make the tour profitable.
If there is to be a Lions Tour this year, then how about playing Australia and moving the SA tour to 2025?
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More quotes in this piece.
British and Irish Lions "very aware" of need to make decision on South Africa tour
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/55516819
The British and Irish Lions say they are "very aware" of the need to decide whether this year's tour of South Africa should go ahead because of the "uncertainty" caused by coronavirus.
The tour is due to take place in July and August but reports suggest it could be cancelled or delayed until 2022.
It comes amid a surge of Covid-19 cases in South Africa and the UK.
The Lions board will meet this month "to review all relevant information and data".
"As you would expect, we are progressing with our plans based on the latest information available to us," said Lions managing director Ben Calveley.
"However, given the uncertainty that continues to be caused by the coronavirus pandemic both in South Africa, as well as the UK and Ireland, we are very aware of the need to make a timely decision on the best way forward; not least so that we can provide clarity to supporters booked to travel to South Africa next summer, or those thinking of making the trip."
The Lions are scheduled to play three Tests against the world champions, in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Gauteng, starting on 24 July.
It is thought the tour would not "be commercially viable" if supporters cannot travel.
The Lions were open to moving the tour to the autumn but talks held last summer slowed.
The UK government reported 53,285 daily coronavirus cases on Friday as the nation struggles to deal with a new variant of the virus.
It is the fourth day in a row in which new infections surpassed 50,000, with a record 55,892 cases reported on New Year's Eve.
South Africa has also seen a spike in cases following the identification of a new Covid-19 variant.
There were 16,726 cases reported in the nation's most recent daily total, according to Johns Hopkins University, with a record high of 18,000 also coming on 31 December.
A Lions statement added: "The Lions Board has had repeated meetings to discuss all scenarios available and is in constant dialogue.
"It will meet throughout January and into February, if required, to review all relevant information and data.
"After further consultation with SA Rugby, we will update on the outcome of these meetings in due course.
"In the meantime, we continue regular discussion with our partners in the UK, Ireland and South Africa, including the British High Commission in Pretoria, the Irish Embassy and various government departments, to ascertain as much information as possible on this fast-evolving, complex situation."
The Lions are set to play eight matches in total on the tour, including warm-up games against invitational sides and Super Rugby teams.
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So if its postponed to 2022, do they still tour Aus in 2025 or does that move to 2026?
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@mofitzy_ said in 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to SA:
@Machpants
How does that affect Gatland? I suppose if McMillan has a good season then he won't be missed too much, but there is the matter of his contract.Gatland, McMillan and Collins (CEO) have already talked about contingencies back in August. My guess is that Gatland would take a step back for 2021 and let McMillan take charge.
“There’s always contingencies, there’s always plans A, B, C and D,” Chiefs chief executive Michael Collins told Stuff. “Clayton and myself are in contact with Warren at the moment, and we will be for the foreseeable future.” -
@taniwharugby said in 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to SA:
So if its postponed to 2022, do they still tour Aus in 2025 or does that move to 2026?
I would imagine it stays the same, due to RWC, this will be a one off. A question, will there be a SARU left to receive them after another year of no tests and having to pay back already purchased tickets?
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@Bovidae said in 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to SA:
@mofitzy_ said in 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to SA:
@Machpants
How does that affect Gatland? I suppose if McMillan has a good season then he won't be missed too much, but there is the matter of his contract.Gatland, McMillan and Collins (CEO) have already talked about contingencies back in August. My guess is that Gatland would take a step back for 2021 and let McMillan take charge.
“There’s always contingencies, there’s always plans A, B, C and D,” Chiefs chief executive Michael Collins told Stuff. “Clayton and myself are in contact with Warren at the moment, and we will be for the foreseeable future.”I would hope that discussion was ‘if it is postponed, ill do the right thing and resign’
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If the bedwetters cancel the tour because Covid is still around a bit in six months, what situation do they envisage where they will ever be able to play ever again? The risk to a team touring South Africa is much more likely to be car-jacking or stabbing than Covid.
They can isolate the Lions, like we are doing with our touring teams, and only play against players who test negative.
The Olympics are going ahead, and they're hosting the whole world. South Africans included.
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@Chester-Draws the Olympics maybe going ahead, but almost certainly without crowds. The lions tour needs crowds from UK and Ireland to be profitable, or they won't go. When the UK are looking at 3000 deaths per week, travel might not be top priory, or possible
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@Chester-Draws said in 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to SA:
They can isolate the Lions, like we are doing with our touring teams, and only play against players who test negative.
Like the Indian cricket team isolating? It's fraught with danger.
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'I'd buy a ticket' - Alex Payne floats a compelling alternative 'Home Lions Tour' itinerary
The suggestion that the British and Irish Lions could host the Springboks in a home series tour is gaining legs online.
