RFU chief executive Ian Ritchie supports shorter Lions tour

Outgoing Rugby Football Union chief executive Ian Ritchie has come in support of reduction of matches in future British and Irish Lions tours.

The Lions' 10-game tour of New Zealand proved to be successful and drew interest all over the world with the three-match series ending in a 1-1 draw but with the global calendar set to kick-off from 2020, it will be unlikely the 2021 tour of South Africa will have the same length.

Many former players as well as the Lions team manager John Spencer criticised the idea of reduction in the games as it might affect the concept but Ritchie feels otherwise.

"I think the Lions was an essential part of the global season, it is and it remains so. We've clearly agreed it will remain an essential part until at least 2032 and probably beyond," he told BBC Radio Five Live's Sportsweek programme.

"I think the Lions was an essential part of the global season, it is and it remains so. We've clearly agreed it will remain an essential part until at least 2032 and probably beyond," he told BBC Radio Five Live's Sportsweek programme.

"I think it (eight matches) can work and that was the discussion we've had."

Three days after Lions landed in New Zealand they went on to lock horns with Barbarians in the tour game and Ritchie pointed out that instead of playing a tour game straightaway, they could have been given more to get used to the conditions and environment in the country.

"It's fairly simple to say the first game - this one was two or three days in - why wouldn't you take that one out?" he said.

"It's more time to acclimatise to the country. The next tour is South Africa, which is pretty much the same, so you could easily see how you take one out and it would be helpful losing one more game.

"I don't think that would be a great issue.

"We're very clear on what needs to happen. I think the Lions is in a fantastic place, very much a protected one, and I think we can all start looking forward to 2021 in South Africa."

One of Ritchie's successful move turned out to be the appointment of Eddie Jones as head coach and since then the team has won back to back Six Nations tournament and also had a 18-match winning streak before it was broken by Ireland.

When asked on whether Jones' successor should be from England, Ritchie said: "I'd like to hope it is," he said.

"But I'm of the view it doesn't matter what nationality the coach is as long as it's the best coach. If the best coach is English that's an advantage, but I don't think it is essential."