4. Chris Paterson (Scotland)
Paterson was a stalwart of the Scottish side for more than a decade in a variety of positions, winning 109 caps and becoming for a time the most prolific points-scorer in international rugby.
In one remarkable ten-month period in 2007-08 he kicked 36 consecutive goals for Scotland, not missing a single attempt during the 2007 Rugby World Cup or the 2008 Six Nations Championship.
His Lions tale of woe began in 2001 when he missed out on the trip to Australia after being regarded as a dead cert to make the squad.
He was then ignored for the next trek to the southern hemisphere – the ill-fated whitewash by New Zealand in 2005.
Paterson was snubbed yet again one last time in 2009 when Lions coach Ian McGeechan opted to send an SOS for Wales ace James Hook instead.
Did you know: When he quit in 2011 he was his country’s leading points scorer (809) and most-capped player (109)
5. Toby Flood (England)
Love him or hate him, Flood established himself as one of the world premier fly-halves around 2010.
However, losing his No.10 duel with England rival Owen Farrell during the 2013 Six Nations meant he heartbreakingly missed out on a place to Australia that summer.
And, having missed out on South Africa four years previous, Flood pretty much gave up on his international career after that – heading to France the following year.
Did you know: Flood captained the Tigers to victory over fierce rivals Northampton Saints in the Aviva Premiership Final 2013
6. Sean Lamont (Scotland)
Lamont’s place in Scotland’s 31-man squad for the 2015 Rugby World Cup marked his third tournament in a row, having been named in the 2007 and 2011 tournaments in France and New Zealand in a career that has spanned over a decade.
Despite his consistency, Lamont was never able to pull on the red shirt, losing out to players with more flair time and time again.
Did you know: He became only the third Scottish player to achieve 100 caps in 2015, after Chris Paterson (109) and Donna Kennedy (115).
7. Huw Bennett (Wales)
Former Ospreys and Wales hooker Huw Bennett is acting as interim fitness chief for British & Irish Lions tour in 2017.
Nevertheless, as a player, despite being highly rated and consistent for Wales, he never got the chance to don the famous red shirt.