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Lions captains

Gareth Thomas, Sam Warburton and Alun Wyn Jones join a select band of Welshmen who have captained the Lions

Wales and the Lions in the professional era

There have been six tours by the British & Irish Lions since the game went ‘open’ in 1995 and Welsh players have played major roles in all of them. In the last two series, the 2-1 win in Australia in 2013 and the drawn series in New Zealand in 2017, Wales provided the captain in Sam Warburton.

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Gareth Thomas took over the captaincy of the Lions in the three Tests in New Zealand in 2005 after tour leader Brian O’Driscoll was injured in the first minute of the first game. Warburton led the Lions in two of the three Tests in Australia in 2013 and Alun Wyn Jones took over in the third Test when he was injured.

It means that Welshmen have led the Lions from the start in seven of the 18 Tests played by the Lions in the professional era. England’s Martin Johnson was captain for six matches in 1997 and 2001, while the Irish trio of Brian O’Driscoll (1st Test in 2005), Paul O’Connell (3 Tests in South Africa in 2009) and Peter O’Mahony (1st Test in New Zealand in 2017) led the Lions in the other games.

DFP – Leaderboard

Welsh representation on the tours has risen from eight in 1997 to a peak of 15 and one replacement in 2013. Squad sizes have generally increased during the period as well and Wales has provided a large proportion of Test players.

Test Players
1997                 4
2001                 6
2005                 8
2009                 10
2013                 12
2017                 8

As far as regional representation is concerned, the Ospreys lead the way with 19 Welsh players and one Irishman, Tommy Bowe, over the four tours that have taken place since the four regions came into being in 2003. Next best are Cardiff Blues, with 13 (+ 1 non playing member in 2017), the Scarlets with nine Welsh and one Irishman, Simon Easterby (+ 1 non playing member in 2017) and the Dragons with four (+ 1 non playing member in 2017).

1997 – South Africa
Welsh Representation: 8 players
Backs
Neil Jenkins Pontypridd
Allan Bateman Richmond
Ieuan Evans Llanelli
Scott Gibbs Swansea
Rob Howley Cardiff
Forwards
Scott Quinnell Richmond
Barry Williams Neath
Dai Young Cardiff
2001 – Australia
Welsh Representation: 10 players + 1 replacement
Backs
Scott Gibbs* Swansea
Dafydd James Llanelli
Mark Taylor Swansea
Neil Jenkins Cardiff
Rob Howley Cardiff
Forwards
Colin Charvis Swansea
Robin McBryde Llanelli
Darren Morris Swansea
Scott Quinnell Llanelli
Martyn Williams Cardiff
Dai Young Cardiff
2005 – New Zealand
Welsh Representation: 10 players + 2 replacements
Backs
Gareth Thomas Toulouse
Gavin Henson Ospreys
Tom Shanklin Blues
Shane Williams Ospreys
Gareth Cooper Dragons
Stephen Jones Clermont Auvergne
Dwayne Peel Scarlets
Forwards
Brent Cockbain* Ospreys
Gethin Jenkins Blues
Ryan Jones* Ospreys
Michael Owen Dragons
Martyn Williams Blues
*Simon Easterby Scarlets
2009 – South Africa
Welsh Representation: 13 players
Backs
Lee Byrne Ospreys
Leigh Halfpenny Blues
Jamie Roberts Blues
Shane Williams Ospreys
James Hook Ospreys
Stephen Jones Scarlets
Mike Phillips Ospreys
Forwards
Gethin Jenkins Blues
Adam Jones Ospreys
Alun Wyn Jones Ospreys
Andy Powell Blues
Matthew Rees Scarlets
Martyn Williams Blues
* Tommy Bowe Ospreys
2013 – Australia
Welsh Representation: 15 players + 1 replacement
Backs
Alex Cuthbert Blues
Jonathan Davies Scarlets
Leigh Halfpenny Blues
George North Scarlets
Jamie Roberts Blues
Shane Williams* Mitsubishi Dynaboars
Mike Phillips Bayonne
Forwards
Ian Evans Ospreys
Taulupe Faletau Dragons
Richard hibbard Ospreys
Gethin Jenkins Toulon
Adam Jones Ospreys
Alun Wyn Jones Ospreys
Dan Lydiate Dragons
Justin Tipuric Ospreys
Sam Warburton Blues
2017 – New Zealand
Welsh Representation: 12 players + 4 training call ups
Backs
Jonathan Davies Scarlets
Leigh Halfpenny Toulon
George North Scarlets
Liam Williams Scarlets
Dan Biggar Ospreys
Rhys Webb Ospreys
Forwards
Taulupe Faletau Bath
Alun Wyn Jones Ospreys
Ross Moriarty Gloucester
Ken Owens Scarlets
Justin Tipuric Ospreys
Sam Warburton Blues
Called Up But Didn’t Play
Kristian Dacey Blues
Gareth Davies Scarlets
Tomas Francis Exeter Chiefs
Cory Hill Dragons

 

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