RANKED: Five best British & Irish Lions bolters of all-time

The supremely-talented England centre remains the last and only uncapped player of the professional era to be called up for a Lions tour when selected by Sir Ian McGeechan and Jim Telfer for the trip to South Africa.

Wing wizard Robinson had less than a year of rugby union under his belt when he toured Australia in 2001. But any lingering doubts over his worthiness of a place on the tour were dispelled in the first test in Brisbane, when he turned experienced Wallaby fullback Chris Latham inside and out to score a stunning try. 

The only uncapped member of the famous 1971 Lions tour of New Zealand. Still the only victorious tour of the greatest rugby nation. A veteran of three Lions tours, he was originally plucked by Carywn James straight from a strong Llanelli side. He went on to win 23 caps for Wales in the celebrated golden era.

The winger holds the distinction of scoring the most tries ever by a British and Irish Lion and a Barbarian. O’Reilly’s status as a Lions legend was already assured in his late teens having impressed with 16 tries in as many matches while on the 1955 tour to South Africa, during which he turned 19. At that stage he had only played four tests for Ireland. 

He became a tourist for the first time in New Zealand in 1993, the same year that he made his England bow. Johnson’s only cap prior to departure for New Zealand had been against France. Thrown straight into the starting line-up as injury cover for Wade Dooley, Johnson more than held his own and was selected for the England A tour to Canada that summer. Whilst there, news came through that he was required by the Lions, but instead of simply making up the numbers, Johnson started in two of the tests.