Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones believes the highly anticipated British & Irish Lions tour of South Africa should go ahead this year as scheduled.

The Lions are set to embark on an eight-game tour of South Africa – including a three-Test series against the world champion Springboks – in July and August this year. But the coronavirus pandemic has created considerable uncertainty over whether the tour will go ahead as planned.

Meanwhile, possible options under consideration by Lions chiefs are playing the games behind closed doors, delaying the tour until next year or hosting games in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Speaking during the Six Nations virtual launch on Wednesday, Jones, who played nine Tests across three tours for the Lions and also captained the elite team in 2013, is adamant the 2021 tour should go ahead as initially planned despite the Covid-19 complications.

‘I think it needs to go ahead this year, the jury is out on where it will happen,’ Jones said.

‘We all know the jeopardy that it’s in. All being well, everyone will be safe and looked after if it does go ahead, for those guys selected.

‘It would be a travesty if the fans weren’t able to go and see it. Having been involved in a few, it’s a very special tour and the fans make it that way.

‘From a captain’s point of view, we [Jones, England’s Owen Farrell, Ireland’s Johnny Sexton and Scotland’s Stuart Hogg] are all in agreement that, if it can, it should go ahead this year.’

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