‘The jury is out’ over rugby’s jewel in the crown

As debate rages over possible contingency plans, it remains to be seen whether one of the true highlights of the sporting calendar will be able to happen at all

The fate of the 2021 Lions tour remains up in the air (Getty Images)

The British and Irish Lions tour remains firmly in doubt as the coronavirus pandemic continues to wreak havoc with sporting schedules all over the globe.

Every sport, from football to cricket, golf to tennis, have all been impacted in one way or another by the spread of Covid-19.

Rugby of course is not immune with domestic and international fixtures moved, postponed and in many cases cancelled.

The Six Nations will go ahead next month without spectators in stadiums following in the footsteps of the conclusion of last year's tournament as well as the Autumn Nations Cup in understandably not going quite as planned.

The 2021 Lions tour looms large on the horizon with plans for one of the highlights of the sporting calendar well and truly up in the air.

That matters to fans and players alike with the trip to the southern hemisphere every four years a high point for any of privileged few fortunate enough to be there.

The Lions are due to visit South Africa for a total of eight matches in July and August, the trip highlighted by a three-Test series against the current world champions.

With global cases still very much on the rise and the vaccine rollout not yet where it needs to be, possible contingency options are understandably being considered.

These include playing the games behind closed doors, delaying the tour until next year or even hosting games in the United Kingdom and Ireland rather than on the other side of the world.

Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones has played in nine Tests across three tours and is desperate to be able to do so again.

"I think it needs to go ahead this year," Jones said. "The jury is out on where it will happen.

"We all know the jeopardy that it's in. All being well, everyone will be safe and looked after if it does go ahead, for those guys selected."

Jones, alongside fellow Home Nations skippers Owen Farrell of England, Ireland's Johnny Sexton and Scotland's Stuart Hogg, has been involved every step of the way as Lions' chiefs ponder their options.

The presence of spectators remains a huge point of debate with the throngs who travel alongside the team famous the world over for their devoted support.

The 35-year-old Welshman, who captained the Lions to victory in a Test series-clinching victory over Australia back in 2013, hopes whatever is decided, supporters are a part of it.

"It would be a travesty if the fans weren't able to go and see it," he added. "Having been involved in a few, it's a very special tour and the fans make it that way.

"From a captain's point of view, we (Jones, Farrell, Sexton and Hogg) are all in agreement that, if it can, it should go ahead this year."

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend, who toured South Africa as a player with the 1997 Lions, also hopes a solution can be found.

"You can't underestimate the value the Lions have to our sport and what it means to our players and our supporters," Townsend said

"So I just cross my fingers a solution is found and we can all get behind that team, whether it is this year or next year."

It remains to be seen whether one of the true highlights of any sporting year will be able to happen at all.