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Lions chairman insists South Africa preparations are "fluid"

:Headline: Lions chairman insists South Africa preparations are 'fluid': ID:441591: from db_amp
Coronavirus restrictions are making for a challenging project.

Lions chairman Jason Leonard insists planning for the summer series in South Africa is a "fluid piece of work" because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Both the Lions board and South African Rugby have committed to pressing ahead with the tour in the home of the world champions, although changes to the original itinerary are likely.

A fixture against the Stormers in Cape Town on July 3 is scheduled to launch a quest that culminates in a three-Test series against the Springboks, but the number of cities visited could be significantly reduced.

Leonard refuses to set a deadline for the finalised programme as the hosts contend with the pandemic, the challenges of setting-up biosecure bubbles and the financial implications of potentially playing behind closed doors.

"It's such a fluid piece of work at this moment of time. It's liable to change at the drop of a sixpence really," Leonard said.

"It's moving forward, which is the best position at this moment in time. Even a little while ago, we were more spinning plates than anything else.

"It (the schedule) could change if there's a COVID breakout. We're hoping pretty soon to get it nailed down.

South Africa are the world champions (David Davies/PA)

"It's got to be sooner rather than later because we've got announcements of our own to make.

"We're looking forward to the South African Rugby Union to make this tour happen."

All contingency options, including postponement and holding it in the UK, were officially ruled out last week.

"It's always been our position that we want to tour. We're a touring team and that was always our opinion until someone told us otherwise," Leonard said.

"South Africa have already said they can host the tour and want to host us. The fans and the players and people in South Africa have been looking forward to this for 12 years."

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Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City33245469244577
2Manchester UnitedMan Utd331910464352967
3Leicester CityLeicester34196961392263
4Chelsea331610751312058
5West Ham UnitedWest Ham331671053431055
6Liverpool33159955391654
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs331581056381853
8Everton32157104440452
9Leeds UnitedLeeds33145145050047
10Arsenal33137134437746
11Aston Villa32136134637945
12Wolverhampton WanderersWolves33118143245-1341
13Crystal Palace32108143454-2038
14Southampton33107164159-1837
15Burnley3399153045-1536
16Newcastle UnitedNewcastle3399153654-1836
17Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton33713133339-634
18Fulham33512162543-1827
19West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom33510183064-3425
RSheffield UnitedSheff Utd3352261856-3817
Scroll for more - Tap for full version
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