Exclusive: Lions series against South Africa could still be staged in UK - even without fans

The British and Irish Lions series against South Africa could still be staged in the UK and Ireland despite the possibility that matches might have to be played behind closed doors.

It had been thought the option of a ‘home’ tour was fading fast because the initial financial modelling was based on capacity crowds being able to attend three Test matches at Twickenham, the Principality Stadium in Cardiff and the Aviva Stadium in Dublin by July and August.

A board meeting of the Lions board this week has been postponed until mid-February in order to receive further updates and leave the decision as late as possible. However sources indicated that the option of staging the series in the UK and Ireland remains firmly on the table, with the support of two of the home unions, despite the precarious position of the pandemic and uncertainty over future Covid-19 restrictions

“The decision is on a knife edge, the board are facing an extremely difficult decision to make, especially given the two variants are in the UK and South Africa,” said a Lions source. “Even with the vaccine programme in the UK going so well it is unlikely that all adults will have been vaccinated by the summer.”

Telegraph Sport can reveal that tour broadcast rights holder Sky Sports has told the Lions board that it would prefer the tour to take place as scheduled in South Africa – even if that means the matches must take place behind closed doors.

However, the broadcaster is also thought to have indicated that it ‘wants to be a good partner’ should plans change and there was a clear indication yesterday that support remains for the contingency plan - even if restrictions are not relaxed in time to allow capacity crowds to attend.

Given that the broadcast deal is by far the biggest of the Lions’ commercial partners, even without the revenues from ticketing, hospitality and travel packages, it is understood that a behind closed doors tour would generate a small profit for both the Lions and the South African Rugby Union.

"Sky have made their position clear to the Lions that their preferred approach is a tour of South Africa, whether it is behind closed doors this year or next summer. But postponement is now looking very difficult to deliver,” said another Lions source.

“The broadcast and sponsorship income will not be affected by a ‘behind closed doors’ tour of South Africa. Given all the disruption and uncertainty of the last year, there is a feeling it may be better to go ahead as planned and World Rugby could step in and help SARU financially.”

The complexities of the decision is also reflected by an acceptance that logistically, pressing ahead with the tour to South Africa is the least problematic option, given that the venues, sponsors and broadcast deals are all in place.

“Given the current lockdown, if the Lions are to play in the UK and Ireland, when could you even look at starting to market and sell tickets?” said another source.

“It is difficult to see how this country is going to have full venues in July so it is hard to plan for a home series. Behind closed doors is how sport is taking place right now.”

The decision, which is expected by mid-February, will be taken with the players having also intervened to pledge to make it happen whatever the circumstances.

Telegraph Sport revealed last week that Owen Farrell, the England captain united with his Celtic counterparts Johnny Sexton, Alun Wyn Jones and Stuart Hogg to tell the Lions board that the players were prepared to adapt to any scenario to ensure the tour was not cancelled.

"I think it needs to go ahead this year," said Jones, who has played in nine Lions Tests across three tours, including captaining the side in the 2013 series-winning match against Australia.

"The jury is out on where it will happen. We all know the jeopardy that it's in. All being well, everyone will be safe and looked after if it does go ahead, for those guys selected.

"From a captain's point of view, we (Jones, Farrell, Sexton and Hogg) are all in agreement that, if it can, it should go ahead this year."