Lions vs South Africa...in Australia?

With the chances of the Lions tour of South Africa going ahead this summer diminishing, the offer to host the tour by Rugby Australia is an intriguing one.

Under the offer any profits from the tour would be split between the Lions and South Africa, with Rugby Australia covering their costs. 

As a contingency plan this has clear advantages in that it would allow the Lions to tour this summer in front of paying spectators and, who knows, they may even be able to squeeze in a warm up test against the Wallabies?

It remains, however, something of a long shot. Logistically, in particular, it wouldn’t be easy – with Australia’s understandably strict quarantine regime a major roadblock – and, without the usual tens of thousands of travelling Lions fans, not only are the test matches likely to lack atmosphere, I am not convinced that the economic argument stacks up particularly well either. 

That said, a Lions “tour” in the UK and Ireland – another contingency being considered – is equally flawed in its conception. Much better in my view to cancel this year’s tour and re-convene in four years… 

Total Flanker – the older I get, the better I was