The British and Irish Lions’ tour of South Africa in July 2021 will not be shifted despite a direct overlap with the new dates for the Tokyo Olympic Games.
The Olympics have been pushed back a year due to the global coronavirus pandemic and will now start on July 23, 2021, the day before the first of three tests on consecutive weekends between the Lions and world champions Springboks.
“The priority right now has to be the safety and wellbeing of all those affected by the global Covid-19 pandemic,” Ben Calveley, British & Irish Lions Managing Director, told Reuters on Monday.
“We are determined to play our part in what will be an extraordinary summer of sport. There should not be any direct clashes with Lions matches and Olympic events given the time difference between South Africa and Tokyo, so fans should not miss out on any action.
“We are expecting a fantastic series against the world champions.”
The clash in dates will narrow the options for the Springbok Sevens side that will compete in Japan, with the likes of wing Cheslin Kolbe, who won bronze in Rio de Janeiro four years ago, otherwise occupied with the 15-man game.
Other players such as loose forward Kwagga Smith and centre Ruhan Nel, who might have hoped to make both teams, will now have to make a choice.
The decision to stick to the dates of the Lions tour, which starts on July 3 with the first of five matches against provincial and invitational sides before the opening test on July 24, at least brings some welcome certainty to arguably the biggest rugby attraction outside of the World Cup.
The World Rugby calendar has many question marks remaining though, with the 2020 Six Nations yet to be completed and the July internationals for this year under threat and likely to be scrapped.
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Roar Rookie
Can we get rid of the Lions? It's such a meaningless team. Or if we're gonna keep it add France and maybe just do it against an Aus, SA, NZ Arg combined team. NH vs SH
Reds Harry
Roar Rookie
I really really hope this is a "problem".
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Kwagga and Ruan not automatic picks.. Werner, Pretorious, Du Plessis, Dry, would have to be injured or off form for those 2 to make the 7s side.
peter ostle
Guest
The Lions test matches are scheduled to be played 1am Tokyo time, or in South African time 6pm. This means that TV etc can show the games live and not be impeded by events in Tokyo. Although sevens rugby will be an event in the Olympics most GB broadcasters would not send their 'top rugby people' so again not a large issue. Also, the lions will be on sky [pay] , whereas the Olympics are still on free to air due to the event being seen as one not allowed to be just on pay per view etc. In the GB, like most countries the coverage of the Olympics is nationalist, so focus on athletics, bikes, rowing, triathlon, sailing, horse events then look at events that might have a chance of a British medal.
Tooly
Roar Rookie
So will a lot of things clash. We’ll pull through.
Dean
Roar Rookie
Oh my, that going to be tough on the sleep. Olympics and a Lions Tour! I’ll be tuned in to both.
Jacko
Guest
I cant see this being an issue. SA and Japan are a long way from each other and as we see with SR the SA sides have refused to go there. I dont see how it will affect the crowds too much