Lions tour should not be going ahead now

While not being as much of an enthusiast for the British & Irish Lions as some, I absolutely understand the attraction of following them across the globe. However, that’s in normal times – in the current circumstances I think the whole endeavour is misguided, bordering on barking mad!

- COLIN BOAG

South Africa is facing what is, according to President Cyril Ramaphosa, ‘a devastating Covid wave’. Just as we see things maybe getting better, the African continent might be about to see things get a whole lot worse. Can anyone, hand on heart, support sending the Lions to South Africa?

The essence of a Lions tour is a small army of fans paying a small fortune to follow their heroes across Australia, New Zealand or South Africa, mingling and drinking with the locals, and making friendships that will stand the test of time. This time around, none of that is happening: fans can’t travel, South Africa is in lockdown, the games will be played in empty stadia, and the UK government’s advice is clear, ‘You should not travel to red list countries or territories’, of which South Africa is one.