While the news yesterday that the British & Irish Lions’ Series Rugby Tour of South Africa will go ahead in July, despite the Corona Virus Pandemic, is good for our country, it will be unlikely to benefit the Tourism industry. Coverage by sports journalists will however enhance awareness of the major South African cities in which the matches will be played.

Sport24 has reported the news locally, and provided the following details:

1. The first match of the Tour will be played in Cape Town, at the Cape Town Stadium, the new home of Rugby in the Western Cape, scheduled for 3 July. Three Test matches and four other South African team matches will be played between 27 July and 7 August. The report warns that the scheduled dates for matches may change.
2. Rugby fans will not be likely to be allowed into the stadia, given our country’s slow vaccination program, and that the Third Wave of the Pandemic is expected in winter. Negotiations about attendance with the Government are underway, SA Rugby being happy if a 50% attendance will be allowed.
3. Booked Rugby match tickets and travel packages will be refunded should attendance be prohibited.
4. Should spectators not be allowed, the Tour will still go ahead, ‘a tour behind closed doors is better than no tour at all’. 

Matches currently scheduled to be played in Cape Town are those on 3 July and on 31 July.  Johannesburg, Pretoria, Mbombela (Nelspruit), Durban,  and Port Elizabeth are other match cities.

 

Chris von Ulmenstein, WhaleTales Blog: www.whaletalesblog.com www.chrisvonulmenstein.com/blog Tel +27 082 55 11 323 Twitter:@Ulmenstein Facebook: Chris von Ulmenstein, My Cape Town Guide/Mein Kapstadt Guide Instagram: @Chrissy_Ulmenstein @MyCapeTownGuide