Springboks v British & Irish Lions | Support growing for Australia to host

According to an exclusive report, there is growing support for staging this year’s Springboks v British & Irish Lions series in Australia.

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This follows the latest projections that the eight scheduled matches could potentially be played in front of capacity crowds if held Down Under.

The British & Irish Lions board held a meeting on Thursday, 18 February to consider the proposal in detail for the first time. At the time of publishing, no decision has been communicated.

Meanwhile, it is understood that the United Arab Emirates is also interested in hosting the tour.

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Hamish McLennan, the chairperson of Rugby Australia, told Telegraph Sport – not for the first time – that Australia is in a position to deliver the closest thing to a British & Irish Lions tour given the unique circumstances posed by the pandemic.

The plan would be to operate the tour from a “hub” with the Springboks and British & Irish Lions based in either Sydney or Perth.

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Potential Test venues would be Perth (65 000-capacity Optus Stadium), Brisbane (52 500-capacity Suncorp Stadium) and Sydney (83 500-capacity Stadium Australia and 48 000-capacity Sydney Cricket Ground).

Rugby Australia is confident that the Tests would sell out given the number of expats in Australia from both the UK and Ireland and South Africa.

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It appears postponing the tour to 2022 – which is South Africa’s preferred option – has been ruled out.

That leaves only two possible scenarios: Proceed with the tour as planed to South Africa, but play the matches in empty stadiums OR have the UK and Ireland host the tour.

Both options are filled with risks and question marks, mainly over safety and permission to travel.

The financial implication of hosting such a tour without spectators – even in half-full stadia – is substantial and a deal-breaker.

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And that’s where the Australia “option” has now arisen.

Whatever the final decision, one will need to be made sooner rather than later.

The first match of the British & Irish Lions’ tour to South Africa is scheduled for July 3 which is a little over four months away now.

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