Lions facing ten weeks in bubble as government indicate no exemption from red list rules

[ASFN Admin]

The British and Irish Lions are facing restrictions in a 10-week bubble after the Government indicated there would be no elite sport exemptions from countries on the “red list”. Latest guidelines suggest Warren Gatland’s 37-man squad will face a 10-day quarantine in an approved hotel on arrival at Heathrow following the tour to South Africa. The quarantine could have a major impact on the return of England players to their clubs. Under the tour agreement, England’s Lions contingent are due to receive a total of 10 weeks off after the tour – five weeks’ rest and five weeks’ preparation before playing again. Eleven England cricketers, including Jos Buttler and Jason Roy, are quarantining at hotels following their return from the Indian Premier League, which has been suspended because of the coronavirus crisis in India. The Lions are still hopeful that they can persuade the Government the squad should be granted a dispensation, given that Gatland’s players will be operating in a bubble during the eight-game tour of South Africa, with a regular testing programme in place. “The big challenge for us is being in the bubble in South Africa and potentially having to quarantine when we come back,” said Gatland, who is due to take his squad for a 10-day training camp in Jersey before they depart to South Africa on June 28. “If you add in the two-week camp before we go, it could be up to 10 weeks away and in a bubble. The rugby side takes care of itself, so it’s important we get the other stuff right and think about the players’ mental health. Then we’ve got a chance of performing on the field.”

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