Agen pull out of SA tour after strike

The Golden Lions Rugby Union have been forced to again make amendments to their schedule, following the cancellation of yet another fixture in Lions Challenge series.

While the team's major matches in the build-up to the Super Rugby promotion-relegation match in August  – against Samoa, the Stormers and the Sharks – will go ahead as scheduled, there are changes to other fixtures.

French club Agen, who were faced with a player strike over unpaid wages last week, have pulled out of their trip to South Africa,.

Agen have also been relegated from France's Top 14 competition.

They were scheduled to play the Lions in Johannesburg this coming weekend, May 11.

However, the Lions – having advance to the Vodacom Cup semifinals – will host Western Province at Ellis Park this coming Saturday.

The Golden Lions will look to field a full-strength side for this fixture.

The Lions also recently cancelled their two-match tour to America, after problems arose with the second match on the trip.

Other changes to the Lions' fixtures will see the French Barbarians match, scheduled for June 8, replaced by an encounter with South African Barbarians.

The side will include several established South African players based both locally and abroad.

The GLRU said more details will follow in the upcoming weeks.

The original agreement made between the GLRU and Montpellier, with regards to the match scheduled for July 12, still stands.

However, this fixture will be cancelled should Montpellier qualify for the Top 14 play-offs.

An alternate first-class fixture is currently on standby should the match be cancelled.

The match scheduled for July 20, which will see the Lions face Grenoble at Ellis Park, will be confirmed in the weeks ahead.