Future Lions tours risk being fatally compromised by shrinking schedule

Final midweek game of 2017 New Zealand tour – against the Hurricanes – shapes up as collector’s item, with only eight matches likely in South Africa in 2021The British & Irish Lions’ final midweek game of their 2017 tour is shaping up to be a collector’s item. As things stand there are set to be only eight matches on the 2021 itinerary in South Africa to permit extra preparation time and to assist player welfare, with no further provincial fixtures once the Test series commences.It potentially gives the management one less pre-Test headache but the consequences of shrinking the present 10-…