Lions officials announced earlier this week that there would be no abandonment of the 6,000-mile journey to the home of the world champions, following strong suggestions that the quadrennial event – featuring some of the best rugby players on the planet – could be switched to Britain.
Coach Warren Gatland visited Jersey last month to assess its suitability as a training base, with Strive Health Club in St Peter potentially set to act as their hub.
Strive director Ben Harvey has insisted that the decision to stage the tour in South Africa changes little in terms of Jersey’s involvement, with the Island believed to be on a shrinking shortlist of potential pre-tour training venues. It is understood that Gatland could still bring his staff and players to the Island for up to two weeks before they face Japan in a warm-up friendly at Murrayfield on 26 June.
‘I have spoken to the Lions over the last couple of days and the discussions are going well,’ Harvey explained. ‘We remain positive and very hopeful but there is more detailed planning to be done at their end.
‘We are still one of the options, so we must have made an impression.’
The Lions are set to face Stormers in the first of five friendlies on South African soil on 3 July. The three-Test series against the Springboks is due to begin on 24 July in Johannesburg.
