Lions’ UK contingent denied quarantine exemption returning from South Africa

The United Kingdom’s government has denied the British and Irish Lions an exemption from quarantine regulations, meaning most of the team won’t be allowed to fly straight home from South Africa.

Warren Gatland ’s squad conclude their three-Test series against the Springboks on Saturday, with the scoreline currently tied at one win apiece heading into their Cape Town decider.

However, South Africa currently remains on the UK’s ‘red list’ of travel destinations, meaning those returning to England, Wales and Scotland would need to quarantine for 10 days upon their return.

Rather than pay £2,285 per player to stay at a designated hotel, those returning to the UK will divert to Jersey, where the team began their pre-tour preparations before flying to South Africa.

It’s understood the squad was anticipating the government would turn down their request for exemption upon their return, keeping many players from reuniting with their loved ones.

Gatland—who is on a sabbatical as head coach of Super Rugby outfit the Chiefs—is expected to return to his native New Zealand once the Lions tour reaches its conclusion.

The squad’s Irish contingent, meanwhile, will be allowed to quarantine from home once they return from a tour that’s lasted almost 10 weeks.

The eight Ireland internationals will be dropped off as the first pitstop on a plane the Lions have chartered to ferry them back from South Africa.

It’s believed some players have organised for their families to meet them in Jersey under lesser restrictions, while others will travel to mainland Europe once the tour has concluded.

Gatland warned that such a long separation from families and friends would be part of the real test going up against South Africa, even more so than the rugby itself.

Speaking before the tour, the coach said: “The rugby side takes care of itself, so it’s important we get the other stuff right and think about the players’ well-being and mental health. The rugby’s going to be the easy part.”

It perhaps didn’t seem that way when the Lions lost 27-9 in their second Test against the Springboks last Saturday, with all the momentum now seemingly with their hosts.

Gatland is unbeaten as the head coach of two Lions series to date, having previously gone into tour deciders against Australia and New Zealand with the scores tied at one win each.

The northern hemisphere tourists emerged victorious against the Wallabies in 2013, while a 15-15 draw in their third Test against the All Blacks resulted in a rare tied series.

In an effort to avoid a similar sharing of the spoils in South Africa, Gatland backed the idea of extra time if the scores end level in Cape Town on Saturday, though there’s yet to be an official response on the matter.

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