The highly-anticipated British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa in 2021 remains on the cards, though a date change to later in the year is a possibility because of restrictions caused by the coronavirus. 

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That was the message from SA Rugby CEO Jurie Roux on Monday. 

Addressing around 40 rugby journalists from all over the country in a video press conference, Roux confirmed that SA Rugby had its hands full in working around the global coronavirus crisis in an effort to return to rugby as soon as possible. 

For the Springboks, there are numerous options that include potentially accommodating the delayed July Tests against Georgia and Scotland, this year's scheduled Rugby Championship as well as the end of year tour to the northern hemisphere, which is also yet to be cancelled. 

Easily the highlight, though, is the Lions tour which would see the world champion Boks taking on one of the most iconic sides in the history of the game. 

The good news from Roux on Monday was that there were no doubts over the tour going ahead. 

"I could talk about the British & Irish Lions for a really long time, but the most important thing is that the tour is going on," said Roux.

"There might be a date change, but we are able to manage that.

"The development of the pandemic and its varying impact around the world has made for a fluid situation and we have had to be responsive in our planning.

"That means we have looked at a number of contingencies around scheduling."

Roux, who said it would be a disappointment if the Lions series had to be played behind closed doors, said that was not a situation for which SA Rugby was currently planning. 

He was particularly pleased with the commercial model that had been set up to ensure that the tour was as lucrative as possible from a South African perspective, especially considering the hammer blow that has come in the form of the coronavirus crisis. 

"The commercial model that we've put up as a joint venture between us and the British & Irish Lions is pretty out there," he said.

"We have thrown away the text book and it's a completely different model that is a sharing of revenue. It is a sharing of logos, a sharing of IP and commercial value.

"It is something that in a post-covid world will come in handy in terms of the revenues that it will generate for us and help us to operate."

Roux was also asked about reports that have linked him with a move to a position at World rugby, but he said the possibility of missing out on the Lions tour was not something he was prepared to consider. 

"We have got the greatest tour in the world coming next year and I can't wait to be part of that environment," he said.

"There are very few things I would exchange in life if it meant losing a British & Irish Lions tour.

"I'm not going anywhere and hopefully nothing will happen that will stop that tour next year."

The initial scheduling had the three Test matches taking place on July 24 (FNB Stadium), July 31 (Cape Town Stadium) and August 7 (Ellis Park) in 2021.