Decision on Lions tour could be two months away

British & Irish Lions chairperson Jason Leonard says he and the organisers are prepared to hold off on their final decision regarding the tour for another couple of months, if need be.

World Rugby vice-chairman Bernard Laporte has been recorded saying that a decision will be reached by the end of March, though that does not dovetail with Leonard’s position.

There has been much confusion surrounding the tour as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and a host of alternative options have been put on the table should the schedule in South Africa prove impossible to observe – one such option is playing the series in Australia where the virus is virtually non-existent at the present time.

“Should the tour go ahead in South Africa, it is also likely that the matches would be held behind closed doors,” said Leonard.

Such an eventuality would be far from ideal as it was expected that approximately 30 000 Lions fans would accompany the team in South Africa. All the tickets for the three test matches were snapped up months ago by eager fans, which is set to create an administrative nightmare should people not be admitted to view the games live.

“It is all fluid, there could be a decision next week, there could be one in four, six or eight weeks’ time,” Leonard said.

“There is nothing on the table at this moment in time where we are saying ‘this is what we need to do’.

“We are still working with all involved to give ourselves the best option of hopefully trying to provide a traditional Lions tour – at least as much as a traditional Lions tour as we possibly can. Obviously it is not a traditional year, so a traditional Lions tour could well be impossible to deliver.

“I think from all concerned, until someone tells us it is not on, you want to deliver a tour in South Africa this summer.”