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British and Irish Lions’ 10 greatest players

20 June 2025

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The cream of British and Irish rugby talent are all set for their tour to Australia starting on 28 June. They will be hoping (and are favourites) to repeat their series win Down Under in 2013. They will join an exclusive club of legendary British and Irish rugby players who’ve been proudly wearing the famous red jersey since 1889 (when they toured – and won – in Australia).


But who are the 10 greatest Lions players in the modern era*?

1. Jeremy Guscott (England). P8, W5, D0, L3

Hailed as “The Prince of Centres”, he was called up to the 1989 Lions tour to Australia, slotting into the side for the second and third Tests, helping win the series. He went on the following two tours with his finest moment coming in 1997, when he sent over the decisive drop-goal to win the second Test (and series) against the Springboks.

2. Keith Wood (Ireland). P5, D0, L3

He popped up everywhere around the field against South Africa in 1997, winning the Man of the Match award in the decisive second test. The ultimate team man and “tourist”, Wood inspired his teammates and Lions supporters alike. He was a great player too, winning the World Player of the Year in 2001.

3. Martin Johnson (England). P8, W4, D0, L4

Whatever Martin Johnson may have lacked in technical gifts, he more than made up for in strength and leadership. For some a controversial character, but for all one of the all-time greats. His leadership earned him the captaincy in both 1997 and 2001. Johnson also toured in 1993’s narrow series loss to New Zealand.

4. Alun Wyn Jones (Wales). P12, W5, D1, L6

The only player to feature in 12 consecutive Lions Tests, Wyn Jones captained the Lions in 4 games. In 2017 he became only the 7th Lion to have tasted victory against all 3 southern hemisphere giants. The second-rower also holds the record for most Test caps, in an international career that spanned 17 years.

5. Jason Robinson (England). P5, W2, D0, L3

A rugby-league convert, Robinson was selected for the British & Irish Lions tour to Australia in 2001, and in the first test scored a stunning solo try, dancing past Australia fullback Chris Latham, to announce himself on the world stage. 2 years later he also scored in a world cup final – also against Australia.

6. Sean O’Brien (Ireland). P5, W2, D1, L2

The Irish flanker scored one of the Lions’ greatest ever tries in the first test against the mighty All Blacks in 2017, finishing off a length of the field move (reminiscent of that try by Gareth Edwards), before being man of the match in the Lions’ narrow victory in the second test. He also started in the Lions team that trounced Australia 41-16 in the final test in 2013.

7. Mario Itoje (England). W2, D1, L3

The captain of the upcoming tour to Australia has tasted victory in both New Zealand and South Africa, though has yet to win a series. He will be hoping to put that right in Australia. A nailed on starter, Itoje earned his reputation with magnificent displays in New Zealand in 2017, as the Lions’ youngest player on that tour at just 22.

8. Tom Smith (Scotland). P6, W3, D0, L3

The super-humanly strong Tom Smith was part of the unfancied British Lions front row that took down the mighty Springboks pack when the Lions unexpectedly beat the reigning World Champions in 1997. He also played all 3 tests against Australia in 2001. Tragically, he was diagnosed with cancer and passed away in 2022, aged just 50.

9. Owen Farrell (England). P6, W3, D1, L2

Son of current Lions coach Andy Farrell, who overlooked his son for the 2025 tour Down Under, Farrell’s nerveless goal-kicking saw the Lions to a victory and a draw against the All Blacks in 2017, kicking the winning penalty in the 77th minute in the second test. He also played in winning Lions teams in 2013 and 2021.

10. Ieuan Evans (Wales). P7, W4, D0, L3

The elusive Welsh winger will forever be remembered for scoring the series winning try in the 1989 tour to Australia, seizing on a kamikaze pass by David Campese to touch down in the corner and earn the Lions a narrow 19-18 victory in the series decider in Sydney. Evans also won Lions caps in New Zealand and South Africa.

*This list focuses on players from the professional era only, but honourable mentions to Willie John McBride (a record 17 games as a Lion) and Gareth Edwards and others from the golden 1970s period of Welsh Rugby, who played in the amateur era with great distinction.


It’s important to note as well this list is not of the greatest British and Irish players of the period. Such a list would certainly include Brian O’Driscoll and Jonny Wilkinson, for example. Instead this list celebrates those players who reached extraordinary heights in a Lions jersey.

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