Castle Lager Lions series to continue in Cape Town, Gauteng to lose out

20 Jul, 2021 - 20:07 0 Views
Castle Lager Lions series to continue in Cape Town, Gauteng to lose out Jurie Roux

The Sunday News

Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter

THE three matches in the South Africa versus British and Irish Lions series will now take place in Cape Town.

Initially, the series was scheduled to return to Gauteng following the first Test in the Mother City on Saturday. However, South African and the British and Irish Lions confirmed on Tuesday that agreement had been reached to conclude the Castle Lager Lions Series in Cape Town.

The decision to remain in Cape Town was made following extensive consultation with medical experts on the risks associated with the delta variant of Covid-19.

All three test matches will now take place at the Cape Town Stadium on successive Saturdays, 24 and 31 July and 7 August.

“The data pointed in only one direction. The Series has already been significantly disrupted by Covid-19 and a return to Gauteng at this time would only increase the risks. We now have two teams in bio secure environments without any positive cases or anyone in isolation. To now return to the Highveld would expose the Series to renewed risk,’’ said Jurie Roux, CEO of SA Rugby.

Roux pointed to the need to have both teams being able to field two squads of equal strength, something that could have been put at risk had the three matches played in different cities.

“Everyone wants to see the two squads, at their strongest, playing out an unforgettable Series over the next three weekends and this decision gives us the best opportunity to see that happen.”

Ben Calveley, the British and Irish Lions managing director, said: “We are fully supportive of this decision which we believe to be in the best interest of the Test Series.”

Ben Calveley

Roux thanked Gauteng and the City of Cape Town for their flexibility and understanding to accommodate the late change of plan.

“We have had great support from local government, and I’d like to thank both Gauteng and the City of Cape Town for their open-minded engagement in what has been a very challenging time. Extraordinary times have called for extraordinary measures and we have had support from all our commercial partners despite the challenges,’’ said Roux.

Roux thanked Tsogo Sun in particular, the official hotel partner of the Series – who have had to make last-minute changes to their operational planning while requiring their own staff to remain in ‘hard bubbles’.

The British and Irish Lions last toured South Africa in 2009 for a three-match series the Springboks win 2-1._@Mdawini_29

Share This:

Survey


We value your opinion! Take a moment to complete our survey

This will close in 20 seconds