Who is the most iconic British & Irish Lion of all time?

Who are nan British and Irish Lions' apical 10 icons?

In a caller podcast bid connected BBC Sounds, erstwhile Lions Matt Dawson and Jamie Roberts subordinate BBC rugby national analogous Chris Jones to rank a number of Lions circuit topics.

The bid covers themes including nan top Lions tours, Test lucifer animals and tries.

You tin listen to nan podcast connected BBC Sounds and person your opportunity by ranking your choices astatine nan bottommost of this page.

Below are their picks for nan apical 10 Lions icons, counting down from 10 to one.

Ireland fable Brian O'Driscoll narrowly misses out, which shows nan rich | history of nan Lions.

Make judge you time off a remark connected your number 1 Lions icon.

Warren Gatland was first progressive pinch nan Lions arsenic an adjunct coach connected nan 2009 circuit of South Africa, earlier taking complaint arsenic caput coach for nan 2013, 2017, and 2021 tours.

The erstwhile Wales coach won nan 2013 bid successful Australia, drew an epic bid successful New Zealand 4 years later, and suffered a 2-1 bid nonaccomplishment successful South Africa.

Dawson: "He whitethorn not person had a playing profession for nan Lions; however, we can't underestimate his domiciled arsenic adjunct coach successful 2009.

"His input and really adjacent he was to nan players successful this caller master era was overmuch much important than group think.

"He was truthful integral successful bringing nan ethos of what nan Lions are backmost to wherever it originated from aft 2001 and 2005.

"The pro era needed thing different pinch nan Lions."

Roberts: "Longevity is monolithic - he has coached connected 4 tours and been caput coach connected three.

"He has won one, drawn one, and mislaid one. That sets him apart."

Former Wales skipper Sam Warburton, who led nan Lions successful 2013 and 2017, became only nan 2nd subordinate - aft England's World Cup-winning skipper Martin Johnson - to skipper nan Lions successful 2 Test series.

Injury prevented Warburton from playing successful nan last Test against nan Wallabies successful 2013, but 4 years later he played a pivotal domiciled successful nan Lions drafting pinch New Zealand aft calmly speaking to referee Romain Poite to thief overturn a precocious punishment telephone against hooker Ken Owens.

Dawson: "He epitomises nan Lions - nan measurement he played and led his players, and nan measurement he talks astir it."

Roberts: "He won 1 and drew one. To beryllium 1 of only 2 players to skipper nan Lions doubly intends you are a typical subordinate and leader.

"Captain of nan only Test bid triumph this century. When you deliberation of nan Lions, you deliberation of Sam."

Former centre Jeremy Guscott was called up to nan Lions' circuit of Australia successful 1989 arsenic a 23-year-old centre pinch conscionable 1 England headdress to his name.

He started some of nan Test victories, and played successful each six Tests connected nan consequent tours of New Zealand and South Africa, famously kicking nan decisive drop-goal against nan Springboks successful 1997.

Dawson: "Guscott had iconic moments and was integral to circuit wins successful 1989 and 1997, pinch a item reel for fun.

"Tries, cardinal moments - that's what sets him apart. People will retrieve wherever they were for that winning drop-goal against South Africa successful 1997."

Roberts: "Purely Lions - and delivering connected tours - is why he conscionable goes up of Sam Warburton for me."

Barry John was injured successful nan Lions' first Test against South Africa successful 1968, but he gained 4 Test appearances connected nan 1971 circuit to New Zealand, scoring 30 of nan Lions' 48 points crossed nan 4 Tests.

The visitors triumphed 2-1, making them nan first - and still nan only - Lions squad to triumph a bid successful New Zealand.

Roberts: "He was nicknamed 'The King' aft nan 1971 circuit of New Zealand. All nan champion trying to trump that arsenic a player.

"Barry typified what it meant to beryllium a Wales fly-half, and to conscionable play. His side-stepping and flair - an unthinkable player."

During historical triumphant Lions tours to New Zealand successful 1971 and 1974 successful South Africa, JPR Williams accumulated 8 Test caps.

Known for his elusive moving from full-back, Williams, who died past twelvemonth astatine nan property of 74, helped seal nan 1971 bid pinch a long-range drop-goal successful nan 4th Test.

Dawson: "It was nan logic why my dada gave maine 2 mediate names. He wanted maine to beryllium a rugby subordinate known arsenic MJS [Matt James Sutherland]. That was because of JPR."

Roberts: "To play 8 Test matches - each nan games successful 1971 and 1974 - he brought astir a caller marque of rugby from full-back.

"He was a fearless and sadistic player. An icon of Welsh and Lions rugby. Around nan world, group knew his sanction and nan marque of rugby he played."

In 2001, Johnson made history erstwhile he became nan first man to skipper nan British and Irish Lions connected 2 tours.

Johnson, who went connected 3 tours arsenic a player, first led nan Lions connected their victorious circuit of South Africa aged 27 successful 1997, which came 2 years earlier he go England captain.

Dawson: "Sir Ian McGeechan and Jim Telfer [the 1997 Lions coaches] understood Test lucifer animals and Lions greats. They had nan concealed condiment and formula, which was proven by Martin Johnson's assignment successful 1997.

"They nailed that action erstwhile nary 1 other would person chosen him to beryllium skipper.

"I ne'er saw a subordinate return him on. He delivered a fearfulness facet to nan opposition. An unbelievable leader."

Roberts: "He reached capacity levels that you were conscionable successful awe of, and that was maine arsenic a fan."

Alun Wyn Jones has featured successful each of nan past 12 Lions Tests, captaining nan broadside to a last Test triumph complete Australia successful 2013.

The erstwhile Wales lock, who was named skipper for nan 2021 tour, holds nan grounds for nan astir world caps (171) and ranks 3rd connected nan Lions' all-time Test appearances list, starting 10 of his 12 caps.

Dawson: "Four tours and 12 Tests successful nan modern crippled is disconnected nan charts."

Roberts: "Is winning a Test bid important to beryllium an icon? That's why, for me, he's down those who person much than his 1 bid win."

Willie John McBride holds nan grounds for nan astir Lions Test caps (17) and nan astir tours, pinch Mike Gibson nan only subordinate to besides spell connected 5 tours.

The Irishman captained nan Lions' celebrated 'Invincibles' circuit of South Africa successful 1974, erstwhile they went unbeaten crossed nan full 22-match tour.

Dawson: "The Lions, pinch its history and traditions - that's wherever Willie sits. How it utilized to beryllium for years and years. We've each heard his speeches."

Former Wales scrum-half Sir Gareth Edwards went connected 3 tours from 1968 to 1974.

He played successful each 4 Test matches connected nan 1971 circuit to New Zealand, erstwhile nan Lions hit nan All Blacks successful a bid for nan first - and only - time.

Roberts: "It's nan Test bid victories successful 1971 and 1974 - to triumph successful some New Zealand and South Africa. He's 1 of nan top rugby players of each time."

McGeechan toured pinch nan Lions arsenic a player, winning nan bid successful South Africa successful 1974 earlier losing nan 1977 circuit to New Zealand.

He besides led nan Lions to bid victories arsenic coach successful 1989 and 1997, pinch defeats successful 1993 and 2009.

Jones: "Surely nan top icon of each is Sir Ian McGeechan? As a subordinate he was portion of nan 'Invincibles'. He played a cardinal domiciled successful each nan Tests successful 1974 and each 4 successful 1977.

"As a subordinate his credentials are enormous. He coached connected 4 Lions tours. He perpetually saved nan Lions - successful 1989 they were successful nan doldrums aft immoderate wretched tours successful nan 80s and he resurrected them pinch a bid triumph successful Australia.

"In 1997 they were flagging aft 1993, and successful 2009 they were flagging aft 2001 and 2005 and he brought backmost nan Lions."

Dawson: "He has done it arsenic a subordinate successful 1 era and past successful 2 eras - amateur and master - arsenic a coach. That is 20 years of Lions coaching - and successful Lions coaching."

Roberts: "Hard to disagree."