SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer says that it would be \u2018tragic\u2019 if the British and Irish Lions decided not to tour South Africa every 12 years.<\/p>\n
Reports last week stated that the famous touring team is challenging consultancy firms<\/a> to \u201cideate, validate and confirm the preferred operating model and approach for the period beyond 2029.\u201d<\/p>\n South Africa made virtually no money from the 2021 Lions tour<\/p>\n The tour to New Zealand<\/a> in 2029 is the final scheduled tour under the current agreement with SANZAAR<\/a>, and the Lions<\/a> are currently weighing up their options with the Beyond29 document stating that they are looking \u201cto learn how they can expand their value and awareness further into new audiences, potentially in new territories.\u201d<\/p>\n The request for proposals was sent out by the famous touring team, which wants to establish the viability of adding a new destination outside of the current stops in South Africa<\/a>, Australia, and New Zealand, and these could include the likes of France, Japan, and the Americas.<\/p>\n Speaking to Afrikaans publication Rapport<\/a>, SARU CEO Oberholzer says that it would be \u2018tragic\u2019 if the Lions didn\u2019t tour South Africa on their usual 12-year rotation, particularly after the 2021 series was played completely behind closed doors due to the global pandemic.<\/p>\n \u201cAll the more so because we came up short in 2021, when we had to present the Lions tour during COVID-19 and could make virtually no money,\u201d he remarked.<\/p>\n Before he sounded a warning to the Lions, \u201cPeople have to be careful not to just do away with tradition for the sake of it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2018One of the best players of his generation\u2019 \u2013 British and Irish Lions fullback calls time on illustrious career<\/a><\/p>\n Too early for SA Rugby to weigh in<\/p>\n If the status quo were to be maintained, the Lions would be touring South Africa in 2033, and while Oberholzer would rue the change in the touring schedule, he isn\u2019t too worried just yet, as the investigation into other destinations is only at the exploratory phase.<\/p>\n \u201cThis Lions project is still at a very early stage, and they are only now appointing advisors to investigate the viability of a new touring model,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cTherefore, it is still too early for us to really express an opinion. We will see what they ultimately decide and take it from there.\u201d<\/p>\n Meanwhile, former Scotland number eight John Beattie, who toured with the Lions in 1980 and 1983, sees the logic behind taking the touring team to another, bigger region with rugby played mainly in smaller countries.<\/p>\n \u201cThe USA, with a population of 354 million, has the largest economy in the world,\u201d he told Rapport<\/p>\n \u201cI can therefore see the logic of expanding there as well as to an established city-based rugby setup like the ones in France.\u201d<\/p>\n He added: \u201cIf you can get the best of Britain to tour Japan, the stadiums will sell out and their pockets will be full of money. These days it\u2019s about expanding the footprint and making money rather than simply showcasing the beauty of the game as in the past.\u201d<\/p>\n