B&I Lions tour schedule confirmed
With the British and Irish Lions tour edging ever closer,
management on both sides have settled on a tour schedule that will see the
tourists play at four venues between Gauteng and Cape Town for the tour
starting on 3 July.
In what has been an unprecedented build-up to the much-anticipated tour, the reality of not having fans at any of the fixtures, let alone the three test matches, is a very real possibility as a third wave of Covid-19 infections threatens South Africa.
The Lions squad will be led by Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones and the squad will face Japan in a pre-tour match at Murrayfield before they head to South Africa to take on the Emirates Lions in their tour opener on the first Saturday of July.
Being able to confirm the schedule and make the tour as viable as possible is a big moment for CEO of SA Rugby Jurie Roux.
“We’re delighted to be able to finally confirm the revised schedule after months of scenario planning and shifting circumstances,” said Roux.
“It has been a challenging process with dozens of variables to consider but we believe we have arrived at a schedule that minimises the risks associated with the pandemic.
“We are hopeful that restrictions on attendance at sports events will be relaxed but, for the moment, we are planning for an event behind closed doors.
“If that requirement changes, then we’ll assess the options available and make the necessary decisions based on the restrictions in place.”
“I would like to thank our supporters and commercial partners for their patience over these many months. This is not the Castle Lager Lions Series we imagined when we started our planning more than two and a half years ago but, in the circumstances, I think it is an exciting prospect.
“After all the uncertainty it’s a relief to be able to put a stake in the ground and confirm what the Series will look like – I’m sure most of us can’t now wait for kick off.”
The series will start in Johannesburg at Ellis Park for the first two matches of the tour where the Lions will face the Golden Lions and then take on the Cell C Sharks on 7 July.
On 10 July the Bulls will host the Lions at Loftus Versveld before they travel to Cape Town to face the South Africa ‘A’ team on 14 July followed by a meeting with the Stormers three days later at the Cape Town Stadium.
The visitors will remain in Cape Town for the first test match on 24 July at the Cape Town Stadium before they head back north to take on the Boks over the next two weekends at the iconic FNB Stadium in Soweto.
The full Castle Lager Lions Series 2021 is:
Saturday 3 July: Emirates Lions v The British & Irish Lions (Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg) KO 18h00 (SAT) / 17h00 (BST)
Wednesday 7 July: Cell C Sharks v The British & Irish Lions (Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg) KO 20h00 (SAT) / 19h00 (BST)
Saturday 10 July: Vodacom Bulls v The British & Irish Lions (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria) KO 18h00 (SAT) / 17h00 (BST)
Wednesday 14 July: South Africa ‘A’ v The British & Irish Lions (Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town) KO 20h00 (SAT) / 19h00 (BST)
Saturday 17 July: DHL Stormers v The British & Irish Lions (Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town) KO 18h00 (SAT) / 17h00 (BST)
Saturday 24 July: Springboks v The British & Irish Lions (1st Test, Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town) KO 18h00 (SAT) / 17h00 (BST)
Saturday 31 July: Springboks v The British & Irish Lions (2nd Test, FNB Stadium, Johannesburg) KO 18h00 (SAT) / 17h00 (BST)
Saturday 7 Aug: Springboks v The British & Irish Lions (3rd Test, FNB Stadium, Johannesburg) KO 18h00 (SAT) / 17h00 (BST)
