Rugby Australia chief executive Andy Marinos has confirmed the organisation has offered to host this summer's Lions series against South Africa.
The 2021 tour was due to take place in July and August but the seriousness of the pandemic in South Africa has rendered a standard tour highly unlikely.
However, on Saturday the London Times reported that Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan contacted both World Rugby and the South African union with an offer to host the tests in Australia.
Marinos reinforced the idea that the games could take place Down Under in front of fans, telling reporters: "If we can provide a safe haven, an environment where the British and Irish Lions tour can continue, why wouldn't we?
"It’s so important for the global rugby economy and the global rugby community that we have international rugby played with as little disruption as possible."
On Saturday McLennan told The Times: "We have already staged rugby here around Covid with the precautions we took to play the Rugby Championship.This weekend, after the players have finished quarantine, the Australian Open tennis starts with 30,000 people allowed in.
"There are so many ex-pats living around Australia from South Africa and the UK and Ireland that we still feel we could fill the grounds."
Listen to the RTÉ Rugby podcast on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
