Uncertainty hangs over the British and Irish Lions’ tour of South Africa. Restrictions related to Covid-19 threaten the organization of test matches against the Springboks. But the South African Rugby Federation (SA Rugby) is trying everything to ensure that they are maintained.

This is the concern of the South African Rugby Federation (SA Rugby). A little more than thirteen weeks before the arrival of the British and Irish Lions in South Africa, the vagueness remains total. Indeed, South Africans still do not know if the tour will take place on the initial dates (June 26 – August 7). Several obstacles threaten the holding of the four test matches against the Springboks.

The main one is linked to the absence of spectators still banned from the stadium due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the absence of the public would constitute a great shortfall for the discipline. This tour is, in fact, a good opportunity for South African rugby to rediscover colors, after a sportingly stressful and economically chaotic year.

“An economic impact of 6.6 billion rand”

“The series will help get our economy back on track. It will also help the tourism industry to overcome some of the negative effects of the pandemic. And, hopefully, to avoid further layoffs in this sector ”, maintains the president of SA Rugby, Mark Alexander, quoted by The South African . The financial stakes around this event are therefore enormous.

SA Rugby cannot afford to miss such an opportunity. “The series would have an economic impact of 6.6 billion rand ( 243.7 billion FCFA) on the country. All sectors must help put the economy back on track, ”adds the South African rugby boss. Therefore, the authority decides to try the impossible to ensure the maintenance of the tour.

SA Rugby for public access to the stadiums

The South African federation thus hopes to convince the authorities to lift restrictive measures linked to the health crisis. “We are doing everything in our power to keep thel Lions touring South Africa going,” insists Mark Aleksander. The president of SA Rugby pleads for an opening of the stadiums to the public. Negotiations are already underway.

Mark Aleksander thus follows the logic of other South African leaders. Most of them want supporters to have access to stadiums up to 50% of their capacity. But the government has still not reacted to the requests of the federations. What worries the boss of South African rugby just over three months before the tour of the British and Irish Lions.