Rugby: British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa sweating on COVID-19 travel bans

Officials have warned the 2021 British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa could be pushed back a year, if the coronavirus pandemic halts travel.

The Lions will play three tests, two in Johannesburg and one in Cape Town, on an eight-match tour from July 3-August 7 next year.

There have been fears that COVID-19 may yet play a role in restricting travel, and SA Rugby chief executive Jurie Roux has said that would in all likelihood see the tour moved to 2022.

"Travelling for international events will likely still be under more pressure than pre-COVID [In July 2021]," he said.

"No spectators and people not being able to travel would not make this commercially viable and then we would discuss how we continue with the tour.

"There has been some talk of moving it out [to a new date], but our travel advice is that by June/July we should be at what is deemed to be normal international travel.

Roux said full refunds for tickets and package tours would be offered to fans if the tour is cancelled.

Reuters