Springbok v British & Irish Lions matches moved to just TWO cities
The original itinerary for the three-Test series between the Springboks and British & Irish Lions is set to change.
The original itinerary for the three-Test series between the Springboks and British & Irish Lions is set to change.
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According to a report in the Telegraph, Cape Town will now host the first match and Johannesburg the final two.
The first Test was initially scheduled to take place at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on 24 July with the second match to be played at the Cape Town Stadium and the third and final Test at Ellis Park back in Johannesburg.
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However, following the announcement that the tour will indeed go ahead in South Africa, organisers confirmed that the original eight-match dates and venues were subject to change.
And now according to the Telegraph report, that has indeed been the case with an official announcement to take place this week.
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The venues for the British & Irish Lions’ five warm-up matches – against the Stormers, Bulls, Sharks, SA ‘A’ and SA Invitation – will also be changed as all matches will now take place in just two cities – Cape Town and Johannesburg – amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
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British & Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland said: ‘I’m not 100 percent sure, but my understanding at the moment is that the games will be on the same dates as the original tour was, and it will be three Tests.
‘It looks like it’ll be in two venues, so starting potentially in Johannesburg, then three games in Cape Town, with the first Test there, and then the second and third Test back in Johannesburg.’
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Based on those comments, the first Test will take place on 24 July in Cape Town followed by the second and third Tests in Johannesburg on 31 July and 7 August.
Cape Town could host the Stormers, SA Invitational and first Test, with Johannesburg playing host the Bulls, Sharks, SA ‘A’ and final two Tests.
It would mean Gqeberha, Durban, Nelspruit and perhaps Pretoria missing out on hosting matches.