The British and Irish Lions’ tour to South Africa next European summer is to go ahead as scheduled, it has been announced.
Warren Gatland’s Lions will play the opening match of their eight-fixture tour when they face Stormers at Cape Town Stadium on July 3, with the first of the three Tests against the world-champion Springboks taking place at Johannesburg’s FNB Stadium three weeks later.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a lot of disruption to the sporting calendar, but after extensive discussions we are now able to confirm that the tour dates are as previously announced,” Lions managing director Ben Calveley said in a statement.
“An enormous amount of planning, especially from a logistical perspective, goes into putting on a Lions series, so it was crucial that a decision was agreed upon in good time.
“I am particularly pleased that we are able to provide some clarity for all those Lions supporters eager to travel to South Africa next summer.”
The second Test is scheduled for July 31 in Cape Town and the third for August 7, back in Johannesburg at Emirates Airline Park.
“Lions Tours are always unique, but to take on the world champions in their backyard will be something very special,” coach Gatland said.
“Having toured there in 2009 I know the scale of the task ahead of us – playing in South Africa presents a number of unique challenges such as playing at altitude, while the Boks will always be physical, aggressive and highly motivated.
“History tells you it’s a tough place to tour, but I am confident that we can go there and win.”
Ex force fan
Guest
Of the 15 vaccines in human trail, four advanced to Phase 3 clinical trials. These vaccines should gain regulatory approval by year end, however we still have to manufacture, distribute the vaccines and motivate people to get vaccinated. We can manufacture hundreds of millions of dosages per year at the moment, we need billions to get to herd immunity...and also decide on how the available vaccines should be distributed and paid for in a “me first” world. Africa will likely be last in the line... We also need more than half a dozen successful vaccines to cater for different parts of the population... The front runners are about 70% effective (influenzas vaccines are about 60% effective) and immunity may wane within weeks instead of years (longevity of immunity is not tested in these trails). There are a lot of important information that we still do not know before we can hang our hat on vaccines as the silver bullet. If the current exponential rate that COVID-19 is spreading is maintained we could achieve herd immunity (if possible) by infection by mid-2021, if the rate is reduced by 50% herd immunity could be achieved by end 2021 - long before vaccines should be widely available. What is encouraging is that the percentage of people that die from the virus continue to decline as we catch more that are not getting serious ill, the virus spread to younger populations, treatments improve, the capacity of heath systems are able to cope with the load and the virus continue to mutate into less dangerous strains. It is an interesting race between when herd immunity will be achieved by infection or vaccination (or combination) vs when we would accept the risk of infection...
Jacko
Guest
its only an issue until the vaccine comes along
AndyS
Guest
Doubt that. If it turns out it is cancelled though, the bigger question is perhaps whether the Lions tours will survive in a post Covid world. The longer this all goes on, the bigger the reset likely and it could conceivably remake the entire international game.
MitchO
Guest
I think the way COVID is they may need to tour Oz or NZ instead.
AndyS
Guest
Reality is that the more accurate headline would be "Lions tour going ahead as planned for the moment". It is all that can reasonably be asked at the moment, and it is still good news relative to the alternative.
Ex force fan
Guest
I wonder if anyone asked the pandemic for input into this decision. Hopefully medical treatments will improve to a level that the risk of infection will be acceptable for players, spectators and tourists. Vaccines will not be widely available before earliest end of 2021 and as South Africa have no pharmaceutical manufacturers they will have to wait in line. A Lions tour without spectators is probably better than none.
Jacko
Guest
WooHoo!!!!!!! My Chiefs get a decent coach next year!!!!!!!