Ben Calveley, Chief Govt Officer of Lions: “The feasibility examine is a vital first step in figuring out whether or not a group of Lions ladies could possibly be created, and we’re very grateful for the assist and funding from Royal London”

A examine into the potential roster of a British and Irish ladies’s Lions group will probably be funded by Royal London, it was introduced on Monday.

The pension and funding firm has develop into the first companion of the Girls’s Lions program and has pledged to fund a examine that may study whether or not a ladies’s Lions group could possibly be fashioned.

“The feasibility examine is a vital first step in figuring out whether or not a Lions ladies’s group could possibly be created, and we’re very grateful for the assist and funding from Royal London,” mentioned Lions chief govt Ben Calveley.

Susie Logan, Group Advertising and marketing Director at Royal London, mentioned: “As a contemporary mutual, we imagine within the energy to behave within the collective good and that’s the reason it’s implausible to have the ability to use the mixed energy of Lions. and Royal London to discover if a Lions ladies’s group could possibly be created.

“Via our partnership, we goal to have a optimistic impression on the continued success of girls’s rugby.”

Warren Gatland’s Lions are attributable to journey to South Africa for eight matches between July 3 and August 7, together with three assessments in opposition to the 2019 World Cup-winning Springboks.

The sequence is in jeopardy, nevertheless, as a result of impression of the COVID-19 pandemic, with Lions declining Australia’s provide to host the tour final week.

Owen Farrell and Johnny Sexton on British and Irish Lions tour of New Zealand in 2017

A board assembly on Friday made the choice attributable to lack of certainty over funding from Rugby Australia operating the tour.

4 choices stay into account, however every has vital drawbacks, with a choice due in March.

Persevering with the unique path to South Africa with small crowds or behind closed doorways may nonetheless occur, whereas the financially dangerous chance of internet hosting the tour in Britain and Eire can also be into account.

Enjoying dwelling matches is just thought-about an choice if the federal government agrees to cowl the monetary threat, which the Treasury is at the moment reluctant to do.

Suspending the tour till 2022 is the least doubtless plan of action as a result of ramifications of the unique union summer season excursions, whereas the final choice is cancellation.

South Africa’s board will meet subsequent week with the chance of the world champions internet hosting the Lions behind closed doorways accelerating.