The best British and Irish Lions Tours of all time

Few traditions in rugby are quite as iconic as the British & Irish Lions Tour. Every four years, the best players from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales come together for a tour that pits them against one of the Southern Hemisphere’s big three - Australia, New Zealand or South Africa - with the Wallabies the side Andy Farrell's men will collide with in just a few weeks time.

With pride, history, and a sea of red shirts behind them, Lions tours always deliver drama. And while the series results matter, it’s often the unforgettable moments, individual brilliance and fierce rivalries that fans remember most.

As the first Test of this summer's series against Australia edges closer, here’s a look at some of the most entertaining Lions tours of all time.

Result: Lions won 2–1 (1 draw)

The Lions’ only ever series win on New Zealand soil - and one that’s gone down in rugby folklore. This was the tour where everything clicked: the Lions were inventive, bold and had a backline packed with flair, including Barry John, Gareth Edwards, and Gerald Davies.

Led by coach Carwyn James, the Lions outsmarted and outplayed the All Blacks with a brand of rugby that was ahead of its time. For purists, this was the gold standard.

Result: Lions won 2–1

The first tour of the professional era and one of the most gripping. The Springboks were world champions and heavy favourites, but the Lions were fearless.

Matt Dawson’s dummy, Jeremy Guscott’s match-winning drop goal, and Neil Jenkins’ unerring boot provided plenty of fireworks and is another to have been rewatched in clips and documentaries alike over the years.

Result: Australia won 2–1

Though the result did not got the way of the Lions, the 2001 series is well remembered for a young Brian O'Driscoll's emergence onto the world rugby stage after a stunning solo try in the first Test.

The legendary Irish rugby icon's memorable moment was not enough to earn his side the victory after an impressive Aussie comeback in a tie which was packed with high quality and drama.

Result: South Africa won 2–1

A bruising, brutal series that had everything. The second Test in Pretoria - often called one of the greatest Tests ever - was a 31–28 thriller won by the Springboks in the dying minutes.

The Lions left battered but proud, and their fight across the series won huge respect. It wasn’t a series win, but it was undoubtedly box office rugby.

The Lions had not won a series in 16 years when their 2013 tour to this summer's opponents Australia came around but the Lions delivered in style during a memorable Test series.

George North's stunning solo try won the first Test for the Lions before the Wallabies levelled things up in a tense series but the Lions roared back to blow the hosts away in the third, winning 41-16 after coach Warren Gatland's brave call to drop Brian O'Driscoll.

Result: Drawn 1–1 (1 draw)

Four years on, they were unable to get the victory but the 2017 Lions earned the respect of the rugby world after going toe-to-toe with world champions New Zealand, more than earning the eventual draw.

Gatland's side came back from a bruising 30-15 defeat in the first Test with a sensational 24-21 win Wellington in the second, before a late penalty by Owen Farrell, a shock recent call-up to the current squad, three minutes from time secured a 15-15 draw as the duo ended an epic three-game battle with the spoils shared.

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