Springbok lock Victor Matfield in action during the third Test between South Africa and the British and Irish Lions at Ellis Park on 4 July 2009.
- The British & Irish Lions’ tour of South Africa next year looks likely go ahead as scheduled.
- There were fears the dates could be pushed back to a later stage due plans for a global season.
- There are eight matches scheduled between 3 July and 7 August, 2021.
The British & Irish Lions’ 2021 tour of South Africa looks likely go ahead as scheduled.
Register your interest for the British & Irish Lions tickets in South Africa 2021
British newspaper The Telegraph reported overt the weekend that official confirmation was expected in due coruse, while ticket and travel packages will soon go on sale.
There had been rumours that the tour dates would be pushed back to a later stage amid plans for a global season, but the publication insists that the tour will still place from 3 July to 7 August next year.
“We had to make a call on this now as we were running out of time,” a source told The Telegraph.
“People need to move on tickets, flights and hotel bookings and it is so important to South Africa to have certainty now given the financial importance of the tour to them at a time when we are all struggling with the impact of Covid-19.”
The Lions last toured South Africa in 2009 when the Springboks ran out 2-1 series victors.
British & Irish Lions’ 2021 tour scheduled:
3 July: v Stormers, Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town
7 July: v SA Invitational, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
10 July: v Sharks, Kings Park, Durban
14 July: v South Africa ‘A’, Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
17 July: v Bulls, Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
24 July: v Springboks (1st Test), FNB Stadium, Johannesburg
31 July: v Springboks (2nd Test), Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town
7 August: v Springboks (3rd Test), Ellis Park, Johannesburg
