Top of the tree: Semi Radradra celebrates scoring Bristol’s second try with Harry Randall. The 20-7 victory over Exeter put them four points clear in the Premiership
PICTURE: Getty Images
THE Lions are devising contingency plans for an alternative tour this summer at stadia in Newcastle, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Dublin and London. Non-rugby venues earmarked for what would be the first home Lions tour include the 52,305 all-seater St James’s Park on Tyneside, Villa Park (42,749) and Croke Park, the Gaelic Athletic Association’s steepling shrine with a capacity greater than Twickenham’s.
Amid increasing fears of their tour to South Africa being wiped out by the Covid pandemic, the Lions and Springboks hope to salvage the series by staging it in Britain and Ireland over the same sixweek slot from late June to early August. The proposal is being drawn up in the fervent hope that by then crowds, however limited, will be cleared to attend. The growing prospect of the tour going ahead in South Africa without crowds has forced the Lions to make a decision within the next few weeks instead of delaying it until after the Six Nations.