The British & Irish Lions ‘home tour’ against the Springboks could be expanded to four Tests, according to a report from The Guardian.
It is thought the tour to South Africa is now a non-starter owing to a lack of vaccine programme with the Mail saying the RFU, WRU, IRFU and SRU are hugely in favour of hosting the tour on home soil.
The Lions have now reportedly made an official request to the Government to underwrite a home ‘tour’ this summer.
The Lions board, however, are now increasingly confident the tour will proceed this year and it’s now being suggested that a fourth test, played in Dublin, could be added to the schedule.
A final decision on this summer’s tour will be taken by the end of March with officials increasingly keen to host it on home soil in front of live audiences.
The other possibility being explored is to move the entire series to Australia. The Australian Rugby Union are offering to stage the tour Down Under and have claimed they can ensure a £10million profit, based on state backing.
The four stadiums set to host the Lions vs South Africa tests
FIRST TEST: PRINCIPALITY STADIUM (Cardiff)
Capacity: 82,000
Initially built to host the 1999 Rugby World Cup, it has gone on to host many other large-scale events, such as the Tsunami Relief Cardiff concert, the Super Special Stage of Wales Rally Great Britain, the Speedway Grand Prix of Great Britain and various concerts.
