Lions tour of South Africa in doubt as talks held over new coronavirus strains

The British and Irish Lions will decide by next month whether their tour to South Africa that starts in July will go ahead after new strains of coronavirus that have emerged there and in Britain add to the uncertainty over whether fans will be allowed to watch matches.

The British government is currently advising anyone against travelling to South Africa, which last weekend became the first country in the continent to reach one million cases of COVID-19.

The Lions playing their series against South Africa in the UK and Ireland is one of three contingency plans under consideration in case the tour is called off because of the pandemic.

Planet Rugby reports that a postponement until 2022 and pressing ahead with the current itinerary in South Africa but holding the games behind closed doors are also options being examined.

[Source: Planet Rugby/Guardian]