Lions chief: We came into this country to play rugby, not sit in bio-secure bubbles

Lions MD Ben Calveley disagreed with the notion put to him that the tour is doomed

Managing director Ben Calveley. Picture: INPHO/Dan Sheridan

The British & Irish Lions Managing Director has said the tourists were in South Africa to play rugby “not sit in bio-secure bubbles” as plans were announced to replace Saturday’s opponents with a second match against the Cell C Sharks.

The Lions beat the Sharks 54-7 in Johannesburg on Wednesday night in the second of their scheduled eight games on South African soil culminating in a three-Test series against the Springboks.