"Owen ended up with the most votes" - Warren Gatland confirms leadership group for Lions

Tuesday, 22 June 2021 at 16:20

byRugby Rucker

Warren Gatland has revealed the British & Irish Lions players picked who they wanted to be in the leadership group for the tour of South Africa.

The Lion head coach revealed today: “One of the things we did on administration day was I asked the players all to vote and pick a leadership group."

Captain Alun Wyn Jones leads a British and Irish Lions side including eight debutants against Japan in front of 16,500 fans at Murrayfield on Saturday.

Four Scots make the starting XV, with props Rory Sutherland and Zander Fagerson alongside flanker Hamish Watson and wing Duhan van der Merwe.

Below we take look at who else likely makes up the Lions 2021 leadership group for the tour this summer...

#1. ALUN WYN JONES (WALES) - Captain

Jones was already named skipper of this year's British and Irish Lions side in May, meaning he was already guaranteed a spot in the tours leadership group. The captaincy, after successful stints with Wales and at Test level with the Lions, is deserved, too.

#2. OWEN FARRELL (ENGLAND)

One of life’s competitors, one of life’s Lions. Class is permanent.

Commenting on Farrell’s role within the tour party, Gatland said: I thought it was interesting that Owen ended up with the most votes out of anyone.

“That speaks volumes for the respect he is held in by the others players in the group, not just the England players, but a number of other players too."

"“He is a fantastic competitor. What he has achieved already in the game and the success he has achieved speaks for itself."

#3. STUART HOGG (SCOTLAND)

It should come as no surprise that the Scotland skipper was likely voted into the leadership group considering there is more Scots in the squad than any other point of the professional era.

#4. MARO ITOJE (ENGLAND)

Having been considered for the captaincy, Itoje is also likely in the leadership group. He is a force of nature. In a beaten team, he still makes a huge impact. In massive games, you know he will turn up.

#5. KEN OWENS (WALES)

He’s almost a 1971 or ’74 throwback, a blazer-wearing, anthem-belting, proud Welshman – but a massive player with it. It's no shock that the hooker, who captained the Lions in a mid-week match in 2017, would be included in the leadership group as a front-row representative.