Video of Lions players cramped in economy-class on flight to Europe goes viral

The clip showed two forwards from the Lions - Reinhard Nothnagel (203cm) and Ruben Schoeman (198cm) - sitting in economy-class seats with their legs pointing out to the sides due to a lack of space.

The video was apparently taken on a trip the Lions made to play Benetton in Italy at the end of March and has since been widely shared on social media.

The video sparked a debate about the treatment of professional athletes, particularly in the rugby industry. The players featured were likely already tired and potentially injured after their match, making the cramped conditions even more challenging for them.

Some fans expressed concern for the well-being of the players, while others blamed the Lions for the less-than-ideal conditions.

South African teams did not cover themselves in glory in their European knock-out matches over the weekend, and the travel conditions they face appear to be contributing to their lackluster performances.

Although the players seemed to see the funny side of it, it depicted the reality of travel for big-body rugby players in an industry where international air travel is a significant cost.

The cost of flying a 23-man rugby team in business class from Glasgow to Johannesburg is in the region of R90,000 per person, making it an amount few rugby union sides could afford. In contrast, an economy seat costs as little as R5,500.