Further COVID-19 restrictions in both the U.K and South Africa have left further uncertainty regarding the Lions tour in the summer.
Many are calling for the Tour to be hosted in the U.K but as of yet no decision has been made. A decision is expected to be made by February.
There are currently three options on the table. One being, playing the Tour in South Africa with no fans. The second is postponing the tour until 2022, and the latter is to turn the scheduled fixtures into home games for the Lions.
Premier Sports Presenter Lauren Jenkins believes that playing the games in the U.K would threaten the integrity of the Lions,
“Playing it in the UK for me is out of the question, the Lions would lose their magic if they play the tour at home.
“It’s almost not just preferable but almost imperative that it happens in South Africa.”
Jenkins along with many other believe that it is vital for the tour to go ahead as planned in South Africa whether that being this year or next year.
“First and foremost, it’s super important that the tour happens in South Africa, financially the SA Rugby Union are relying on the cash.
“From people I’ve spoken to it’s not just cash to boost their economy but to keep the national team going, because the team and the union are close to going bust.”
The presenter who worked on the previous Lions tour of New Zealand believes there is no easy fix,
“I guess the arguments come down to the sort of romantic against the practical isn’t it.
“Apart from a miracle end to the pandemic and crowds back there isn’t a perfect solution for the Lions tour that suits everyone.”
Jenkins is not the only one who is concerned about the games being played at home. Legendary Lions captain of the 1974 Invincibles tour of South Africa, Willie John McBride told Wales Online,
“It would be a disgrace. It will defeat everything the Lions stand for.
“It is not a Lions tour, or a Lions concept of any sorts to play anything here in the home countries.”
