Sunday 14 May 2017 13:56, UK
Miles Harrison counts down to the 2017 tour by selecting one player per day from the list of his 50 greatest Lions...
Going back in time, there have been some truly great British and Irish Lions.
The two men that I most regret not having seen play live are Ireland's Jackie Kyle and Cliff Morgan of Wales. For me, they will forever remain black and white visions of rugby greatness.
Other players whose names will be forever part of the Lions story include the likes of Dickie Jeeps of England and Jim Telfer of Scotland who, of course, went on to become one of the great Lions coaches too.
However, when asked to compile this list of the 50 greatest Lions, it seemed only right to focus on those players that I have actively followed in my lifetime: either in print, on radio or television or, from 1997, from the privileged position of the commentary box.
So, I start from 1971, which also seems wholly appropriate given that the Lions are due in New Zealand again this summer, trying to repeat the achievement of those history-makers all those years ago.
Indeed, the 1971 Five Nations Championship and the Lions tour that followed that year are the first rugby memories for this commentator and, despite all the wonderful moments I have been blessed to witness since then, nothing has ever quite made the same impression as that 1971 tour.
Quite simply, the snippets of action and the tales surrounding that trip sealed my love of this game for life.
Fifty players from nearly 50 years, chosen by a 50-year-old who just wonders if the 2017 tour will have a similar impact on a whole new generation of rugby watchers...
