THE ORGANISERS OF next year’s Lions tour to South Africa have underlined their plans to press ahead with an unchanged schedule as Sky were awarded the broadcast rights for their seventh straight tour.
While sport the world over is coming to terms with finding solutions to work around Covid-19 and little certainty around travel, World Champions South Africa are determined to host the Lions as originally planned.
“We’re delighted to confirm the Tour dates remain the same,” said SA Rugby CEO Jurie Roux in a statement.
“We continue progressing our plans to provide travelling supporters with a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
The statement adds that a booking window for anyone who pre-registered for priority access will open from 29 July to 1 September. General sale and ticket ballots will then be open from 2 September.
2021 Lions tour fixtures (Tests matches in bold):
3 July: v Stormers, Cape Town
7 July: v SA Invitational, Port Elizabeth
10 July: v Sharks, Durban
14 July: v South Africa A, Nelspruit
17 July: v Bulls, Pretoria
24 July: v Springboks, Johannesburg (Soccer City)
31 July: v Springboks, Cape Town
7 August: v Springboks, Johannesburg (Ellis Park)
Will fiji and Japan be based in Europe durning this?
@Kingshu: I would assume so as the window seems too short for team to be travelling back & forth to Japan or Fiji
@Kingshu:
Not only that but possibly remain in isolation for the time they are here like the West Indies cricket team are doing at present
@Kingshu: I don’t understand why Fiji is up in the northern hemisphere?
Would it not make more sense to have them be based in New Zealand and play against the rugby championship teams?
Georgia definitely should play, and Japan at a stretch.
@Aaron Tynan: because most of Fiji’s players are based in France and England.
@Kingshu: I’d say it’ll be Fiji and Georgia rather than Japan. Either way, yes they’ll be based in Europe. This won’t be home and away fixtures. The talk has been two groups of four, so three games each, plus a final between the two group winners. Probably have each group based at one venue, Twickenham and Aviva maybe. Sounds like a great plan to me and hope it comes to pass.
Any news on whether those who had tickets for the postponed 6 nations matches will be allowed in?
Asking for a friend
Would love to see Japan after what they have done they deserve it. I don’t think they will be whipping boys of the tournament either.