British & Irish Lions news: Tickets CANCELLED as Red Army fans banned – report

The British & Irish Lions will have to take on world champions South Africa without the backing of their famous ‘Red Army’ of travelling fans later this year.

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According to the Daily Mail, tickets for the original fixtures have now been cancelled and new tickets will be issued once the revised itinerary is confirmed and the South African government have finalised their policy on crowd attendance at matches.

Well-placed sources have revealed that the authorities are preparing for significantly reduced capacities and local spectators only.

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This removes all remaining hope of some travelling support for the British & Irish Lions.

Organisers at one stage promise that the matches would NOT go ahead without spectators, but money talks and there was no mention made of whether those in attendance needed to be from both sides!

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Until the Covid-19 pandemic impacted the tour, there were estimates that as many as 35 000 fans would make the journey from the home nations to watch Warren Gatland’s side take on the Springboks. 

Of course there will no doubt be a number of British & Irish Lions supporters already living in South Africa who will attend while others lucky enough to get their hands on tickets will head to Mzansi well ahead of time to complete require Covid-19 quarantine isolation to watch live.

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The 2021 tour was meant to have delivered a financial boost to South Africa’s rugby community and wider economy, but instead they are having to desperately seek a tiny return on having the British & Irish Lions in the country. 

SA Rugby cruelly lost out on hosting the 2023 Rugby World Cup to France in another massive blow to their coffers.

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