Amid reports that the British & Irish Lions may embark upon a 'home' tour in 2021, journalist Tom English considered the possibility of Croke Park serving as a host venue.
In the event that Warren Gatland's Lions of 2021 cannot safely travel to South Africa later this year, it is believed that organisers will look to hold the tour in the UK and Ireland instead.
One contingency plan up for consideration, Tom English, Chief sports writer with BBC Scotland, joined OTB AM to discuss the realm of Irish-interest therein.
"As it stands," he explained, "I spoke to a number of people who are very familiar with the discussions and the number one contingency plan is to move South Africa here.
"It would be the exact same tour and schedule with test matches possibly taking place at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Twickenham and Wembley Stadium.
"Now, Wembley took me by surprise and I suspect that they don't want to say Croke Park in case they would get ahead of themselves and upset the GAA, especially with these plans in their infancy.
"But Croke Park would have to be on the agenda you would imagine."
Memorably, Ireland's biggest stadium was used for rugby in the past as renovations were taking place at the sport's own home of Lansdowne Road.
With the tour currently scheduled to commence in early July, it remains uncertain whether sporting events in either the UK or Ireland will be open to supporters, however.
If the Lions tour was to take place at 'home' in 2021, one suspects the eagerness to use Croke Park would depend entirely upon if its superior attendance could be utilised.
"A UK and Ireland tour is predicated on there being crowds," English allowed, "maybe not all crowds, but some crowds.
"South Africa is currently some distance behind the UK and Ireland in terms of the rolling out of the Covid-19 vaccine and that's the way [the organisers] see it. You know, could we realistically see upwards of 30,000 Lions fans going around South Africa come July and August?
"I just think it is borderline impossible to see that happening. It will depend on the situation on this side of the world regarding where we are at with the vaccine, etc."
Watch in full what Tom English had to say about a prospective British & Irish Lions tour at 'home' on Wednesday's OTB AM here
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