Alan Quinlan joined OTB AM to talk all things rugby and he gave his thoughts on the increasing uncertainty surrounding the upcoming British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa.
The Lions are scheduled to head to South Africa for an eight-match tour, starting on July 3rd but the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has put these plans in doubt,
On Saturday, the Lions released a statement addressing the suggestion that the tour would be affected. The statement acknowledged that a decision on the best way forward is needed sooner rather than later.
"In the next four to six weeks, they will have to make a decision on it for purely logistical reasons because I know people who are booked to go to South Africa," Quinlan said.
The former Munster player has heard suggestions that the tour could be moved from South Africa to the UK and Ireland but he is not a fan of the idea at all.
"It’s been kind of mooted a little bit that it could be moved to the UK and Ireland or even to France. That’s a non-runner for me," he said.
"I think back to the start of the pandemic when we were talking about GAA matches with no crowds. GAA people were saying that it would never work, it worked but I just think this is different.
"These tours are not a regular competition. It would be futile playing without crowds.
"I was in Australia in 2013 and New Zealand 2017 and to just see the whole fan experience was phenomenal. English, Irish, Welsh, Scottish people all come together, the whole jovial atmosphere.
"It would be a massive shame if it did not happen because obviously South Africa has its challenges and problems but it is an amazing country. It would be a real shame if it didn’t happen."
Quinlan would rather see the tour remain in South Africa and be pushed back a year if required.
"Push it out a year if you need to because I don't think this scenario of moving it to the UK or Ireland would work, it certainly wouldn’t be for me anyway."
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