A crowd of up to 16 500 will be permitted to watch the British and Irish Lions' warm-up match against Japan at Murrayfield on 26 June, it was announced Wednesday.
The curtain-raiser to the combined side's tour of South Africa will see social distancing measures designed to combat the spread of the coronavirus in place at the Edinburgh headquarters of Scottish rugby, with the numbers allowed in well short of Murrayfield's overall capacity of more than 67 000.
This match may well be the only occasion when the 2021 Lions play in front of spectators given that SA Rugby is planning for all eight tour fixtures, including three Tests against the world champion Springboks, to take place behind closed doors.
South Africa is Africa's worst virus-hit country, accounting for about a third of all cases in the region.
"It will be brilliant to see a passionate crowd back at Murrayfield for what promises to be a superb game of rugby before we embark on the tour to South Africa," said Lions managing director Ben Calveley.
"I'm sure it will give the entire touring party an enormous boost to play this fixture in front of Lions fans.
"We are very grateful to the Scottish Government for its commitment and support to ensure this fixture would be seen by a live audience."
Next month's fixture against 2019 World Cup hosts and quarter-finalists Japan will be the first time fans have been allowed into Murrayfield since Scotland's 28-17 victory over France in March last year.
Officials have still to decide if the Lions' match against Japan counts as a full international, which would mean caps were awarded.
The Vodafone Lions #1888Cup against Japan at @BTMurrayfield Stadium on Saturday 26 June (kick off 3pm) will welcome a crowd of 16,500 supporters.
— British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) May 19, 2021
You can read the full attendance update below ??https://t.co/0SNk5LFpgQ
British & Irish Lions squad:
Backs (16)
Josh Adams (WAL), Bundee Aki (IRL), Dan Biggar (WAL), Elliot Daly (ENG), Gareth Davies (WAL), Owen Farrell (ENG), Chris Harris (SCO), Robbie Henshaw (IRL), Stuart Hogg (SCO), Conor Murray (IRL), Ali Price (SCO), Louis Rees-Zammit (WAL), Finn Russell (SCO), Duhan van der Merwe (SCO), Anthony Watson (ENG), Liam Williams (WAL)
Forwards (21)
Tadhg Beirne (IRL), Jack Conan (IRL), Luke Cowan-Dickie (ENG), Tom Curry (ENG), Zander Fagerson (SCO), Taulupe Faletau (WAL), Tadhg Furlong (IRL), Jamie George (ENG), Iain Henderson (IRL), Jonny Hill (ENG), Maro Itoje (ENG), Alun Wyn Jones (WAL, capt), Wyn Jones (WAL), Courtney Lawes (ENG), Ken Owens (WAL), Andrew Porter (IRL), Sam Simmonds (ENG), Rory Sutherland (SCO), Justin Tipuric (WAL), Mako Vunipola (ENG), Hamish Watson (SCO)
Full Lions schedule for South Africa tour:
Saturday 3 July: Lions v The British & Irish Lions (Ellis Park, Johannesburg) KO 18:00 (SAT) / 17:00 (BST)
Wednesday 7 July: Sharks v The British & Irish Lions (Ellis Park, Johannesburg) KO 20:00 (SAT) / 19:00 (BST)
Saturday 10 July: Bulls v The British & Irish Lions (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria) KO 18:00 (SAT) / 17:00 (BST)
Wednesday 14 July: South Africa ‘A’ v The British & Irish Lions (Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town) KO 20:00 (SAT) / 19:00 (BST)
Saturday 17 July: Stormers v The British & Irish Lions (Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town) KO 18:00 (SAT) / 17:00 (BST)
Saturday 24 July: Springboks v The British & Irish Lions (1st Test, Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town) KO 18:00 (SAT) / 17:00 (BST)
Saturday 31 July: Springboks v The British & Irish Lions (2nd Test, FNB Stadium, Johannesburg) KO 18:00 (SAT) / 17:00 (BST)
Saturday 7 Aug: Springboks v The British & Irish Lions (3rd Test, FNB Stadium, Johannesburg) KO 18:00 (SAT) / 17:00 (BST)