Lions facing 10-week bubble as Government indicate no exemption from red list rules

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.”

If the players are required to quarantine for 10 full days on their return to the UK, it is likely to create further conflict between the Lions and the Premiership clubs, as it is unlikely that the quarantine period will be included as part of the players designated rest period.

The Lions hope to confirm their revised eight-game schedule due to the Covid-19 pandemic next week, with the tour likely to be condensed to two bases – Johannesburg and Cape Town – reducing travel amid the pandemic.

“The safety of the players is paramount,” Gatland said. “Being in that bubble, being away from family, it will be about making sure we stay connected with our families. We’ll have to keep the players entertained, put things on for them – competitions, pool, darts, cards, casino nights, sing songs, quizzes. We’ve got to be creative.

“We’ll probably continue with the singing and choir practice that we’ve done in the past. That was successful for us. Those kinds of things are something that we need to get right.

“Can we go to a restaurant and take over the whole place? Can we go to a bar and how do we do that safely? Are the players able to go and play golf or go fishing on a day off?

“I’ll be guided by the medical advice on the things that we can do and the protocols. Those are the challenges for us and if we get that right, then we’ve got a good chance of doing well on tour.”