Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
NZ NZ

Lions series in the UK still missing vital part of the financial jigsaw

By Chris Jones
Warren Gatland and the British and Irish Lions coaching staff

British and Irish Lions chiefs have denied they have already been assured of government money to underwrite a ‘home’ series against the Springboks this summer as the full economic impact of scrapping the proposed eight match tour of South Africa has been revealed.

ADVERTISEMENT

It has been estimated that SA Rugby, as the hosts, would bank around £23m (R500m) if crowds are allowed into the matches.

According to Lions sources, despite claims at the weekend that the Treasury was willing to ensure the Lions do not suffer any financial loss if the tour is staged in the UK – with tests in Dublin, Twickenham, Murrayfield and Cardiff –  “no assurances” have been received yet.

Video Spacer

Offload Episode 19 | Dan Lydiate

Video Spacer

Offload Episode 19 | Dan Lydiate

The Lions have submitted a bid for help which is still being considered although they insist that the proposed tour is still on the table despite South Africa’s on-going battle with COVID-19.

While the British Government weighs up the pros and cons of bankrolling the Lions, the South African online paper the Daily Maverick claims to have seen projected income for a ‘normal tour’ which would pump a staggering £308m (R6.6 billion) from “direct, indirect and induced impact of direct spend” into the South African economy.  

The paper claimed the “direct expenditure” was projected to be £163m (R3.5-billion) created by 172,000 people (which includes domestic tourists) spending a combined 394,000 days following the Lions tour.

Income for SA Rugby would be hit if fans are not allowed to fill the stadia although television right would still be a significant windfall. The tour as proposed would earn SA Rugby’s governing body £23m (R500-million), the bulk of that made up from broadcast rights.

ADVERTISEMENT

Individual regions in South Africa have also been preparing for a financial uplift with the Cape Town region predicting income of around £56m (R1.2 billion) from visiting supporters while Gauteng in the North has worked out the tour would bring in £70m (R1.5billion).

Meanwhile, a petition calling for the tour to be postponed to 2022 rather than being staged in the UK and Ireland has so far reached 6,900 signatures.

Click on the image below to sign up for Super Rugby Aotearoa on RugbyPass:

ADVERTISEMENT

Join free

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | Episode 6

Sam Warburton | The Big Jim Show | Full Episode

Japan Rugby League One | Sungoliath v Eagles | Full Match Replay

Japan Rugby League One | Spears v Wild Knights | Full Match Replay

Boks Office | Episode 10 | Six Nations Final Round Review

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | How can New Zealand rugby beat this Ireland team

Beyond 80 | Episode 5

Rugby Europe Men's Championship Final | Georgia v Portugal | Full Match Replay

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

B
Bull Shark 1 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

29 Go to comments
FEATURE
FEATURE Why the All Blacks are serious about giving Sam Whitelock one last hurrah Why the All Blacks are serious about giving Sam Whitelock one last hurrah
Search