Ranked: The 50 Greatest British & Irish Lions Players of All Time – Who's No.1?

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In an exclusive poll conducted by The Guardian, Gareth Edwards was crowned the greatest Lion of all time, leading a list packed with legends from across the home nations.

A panel of 12 experts, including former Lions captains Bill Beaumont, Phil Bennett, and Finlay Calder, alongside journalists and editors, compiled the rankings based on individual skill, legacy, and impact.

Here's the complete list of rugby royalty:

50. Robert Jones (Wales)
Scrum-half – 1989 – P3 W2 L1

49. Tom Smith (Scotland)
Prop – 1997, 2001 – P6 W3 L3

48. Matt Dawson (England)
Scrum-half – 1997, 2001, 2005 – P7 W2 L5

47. David Sole (Scotland)
Prop – 1989 – P3 W2 L1

46. Rhys Williams (Wales)
Lock – 1955, 1959 – P10 W5 L5

45. Neil Jenkins (Wales)
Fly-half – 1997, 2001 – P4 W2 L2

44. Jason Robinson (England)
Fullback/Wing – 2001, 2005 – P5 W1 L4

43. Roger Uttley (England)
Back row – 1974 – P4 W3 D1

42. Bobby Windsor (Wales)
Hooker – 1974, 1977 – P5 W3 D1 L1

41. Jonny Wilkinson (England)
Fly-half – 2001, 2005 – P6 W1 D1 L4

40. Rob Andrew (England)
Fly-half – 1989, 1993 – P5 W3 L2

39. Paul O'Connell (Ireland)
Lock – 2005, 2009 – P6 W1 L5

38. Peter Wheeler (England)
Hooker – 1977, 1980 – P7 W2 L5

37. David Duckham (England)
Centre – 1971 – P3 W1 D1 L1

36. Jack Kyle (Ireland)
Fly-half – 1950 – P6 W2 D1 L3

35. Finlay Calder (Scotland)
Back row – 1989 – P3 W2 L1

34. Dean Richards (England)
No. 8 – 1989, 1993 – P6 W3 L3

33. Dickie Jeeps (England)
Scrum-half – 1955, 1959, 1962 – P13 W4 D1 L8

32. Bill Beaumont (England)
Lock – 1977, 1980 – P7 W2 L5

31. Graham Price (Wales)
Prop – 1977, 1980, 1983 – P12 W2 L10

30. Jim Telfer (Scotland)
No. 8 – 1966, 1968 – P8 W2 D1 L5

29. Syd Millar (Ireland)
Prop – 1959, 1962, 1968 – P9 W2 D2 L5

28. Lawrence Dallaglio (England)
No. 8 – 1997 – P3 W2 L1

27. Fergus Slattery (Ireland)
Flanker – 1971, 1974 – P4 W3 D1

26. Mike Teague (England)
Flanker – 1989, 1993 – P3 W3

25. Ieuan Evans (Wales)
Wing – 1989, 1993, 1997 – P7 W4 L3

24. John Dawes (Wales)
Centre – 1971 – P4 W2 D1 L1

23. Cliff Morgan (Wales)
Fly-half – 1955 – P4 W2 L2

22. Richard Hill (England)
Back row – 1997, 2001, 2005 – P5 W3 L2

21. Tony O'Reilly (Ireland)
Wing – 1955, 1959 – P10 W5 L5

20. JJ Williams (Wales)
Wing – 1974, 1977 – P7 W4 D1 L2

19. Scott Gibbs (Wales)
Centre – 1993, 1997 – P5 W3 L2

18. Ian McGeechan (Scotland)
Centre – 1974, 1977 – P8 W4 D1 L3

17. Keith Wood (Ireland)
Hooker – 1997, 2001 – P5 W3 L2

16. Gavin Hastings (Scotland)
Fullback – 1989, 1993 – P6 W3 L3

15. Gordon Brown (Scotland)
Lock – 1971, 1974, 1977 – P8 W5 D1 L2

14. Andy Irvine (Scotland)
Fullback/Wing – 1974, 1977, 1980 – P9 W3 D1 L5

13. Jeremy Guscott (England)
Centre – 1989, 1993, 1997 – P8 W5 L3

12. Fran Cotton (England)
Prop – 1974, 1977 – P7 W4 D1 L2

11. Ian McLauchlan (Scotland)
Prop – 1971, 1974 – P8 W5 D2 L1

10. Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland)
Centre – 2001, 2005, 2009 – P6 W1 L5

9. Phil Bennett (Wales)
Fly-half – 1974, 1977 – P8 W4 D1 L3

8. Mervyn Davies (Wales)
No. 8 – 1971, 1974 – P8 W5 D2 L1

7. Mike Gibson (Ireland)
Centre – 1966, 1968, 1971 – P12 W2 D2 L8

6. Gerald Davies (Wales)
Wing – 1968, 1971 – P5 W2 D1 L2

5. Barry John (Wales)
Fly-half – 1968, 1971 – P5 W2 D1 L2

4. JPR Williams (Wales)
Fullback – 1971, 1974 – P8 W5 D2 L1

3. Martin Johnson (England)
Lock – 1993, 1997, 2001 – P8 W4 L4

2. Willie John McBride (Ireland)
Lock – 1962, 1966, 1968, 1971, 1974 – P17 W5 D3 L9

1. Gareth Edwards (Wales)
Scrum-half – 1968, 1971, 1974 – P10 W5 D3 L2

Quiz: Name these 10 retro British & Irish Lions rugby players

Rugby history runs deep, and the British & Irish Lions have produced some of the most iconic players to ever grace the pitch. But can you spot a Lions legend from a lineup? 

Test your knowledge with this quiz! For each question, we'll give you three possible answers—only one is correct.

Think you've got what it takes to ace this retro challenge? Let's find out!

EDITORS PICKS:

• Can you name every member of the 2017 British and Irish Lions?
• QUIZ: Can you name these 10 England one-cap wonders…
• Can you name the top 10 Premiership point-scorers?
• Can you name every England Rugby captain of the professional era?
• Can You Name Every British & Irish Lions Captain Since 2001?

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