Phil Vickery knows as well as anyone just what an emotional rollercoaster touring with The British & Irish Lions can be.

The legendary England prop turns 50 on March 14, the perfect chance to reflect on a two-time Lions tourist who appeared in five Tests in red.

His first Tour came in 2001 to Australia, two years before he was the cornerstone of the English pack that lifted the World Cup Down Under.

Graham Henry had the same idea as Sir Clive Woodward, and not only picked Vickery in his squad, but started him in all three Tests on that Tour, a series clinched by the Wallabies 2-1 in dramatic circumstances.

For Vickery, it was the culmination of a lifelong ambition.

He recalled: “It was a massive event. In 2001, I was 24 so still reasonably young and it was something I always dreamed of. I watched Lions Tours as a young man and I never really thought I would be involved in one.

“It was fantastic, playing with Keith Wood and Tommy Smith. Obviously Dai Young was around and Scott Gibbs came out in the end, Brian O'Driscoll etc. There were a lot of big names and I thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed it.

“I thoroughly enjoyed the Tour, although ultimately it finished in disappointment with losing the final Test match and losing the series.”

That Tour is best remembered by Lions fans for the Sea of Red at the Gabba in the first Test, as they stunned the world champions in Brisbane.

The overwhelming travelling support caught everyone by surprise as the Lions powered to a 29-13 victory, and while Australia came back and eventually won the decider in Sydney, that first Test will stay with Vickery forever.

He said: “The first Test in Brisbane at The Gabba is probably one of my greatest rugby memories and experiences. It was just phenomenal and I'd never experienced anything like it. The support, the euphoria, the expectations, the pressure, the history and everything that surrounds the Lions makes it just a phenomenal thing to be involved in.

“You couldn't go anywhere without being stopped. I think I've got a pretty good relationship with all supporters, whether they are English, Scottish, Irish or Welsh but being embraced and being part of that with the Lions was truly a privilege. It was something I thoroughly enjoyed and was very pleased to be a part of.”

Four years later, Vickery was due to be part of Woodward’s squad in New Zealand but was ruled out through injury.

Instead, he was able to fight his way back to fitness in time to make it to South Africa in 2009, where he featured in two more Tests, as well as captaining the side against Western Province.

While he endured a tough time of it in the first Test at scrum-time, Vickery responded in the third Test with a fine performance as the Lions got the better of the Springboks, allowing him to finish his Lions journey with a flourish.

After that third Test victory he said: “It was a fantastic day. We won the match and that was all that was important to me.

“There was a lot of stuff written and a lot of stuff said, as always. There was a lot of pressure on me and it’s been quite an emotional couple of weeks but, ultimately, we got a ‘W’, which is the most important thing.

“I’m just thrilled for everyone. Everyone contributed to the Tour and everyone contributed to the game and that’s why we’ve come away with a well-earned victory.

“It was a great tour, one which I certainly won’t forget in a hurry. I’m very, very proud of the guys. Ultimately, we’ve lost the series but we’ve taken home a huge amount of pride.

“The Boks certainly deserve their series victory - they’ve had two good wins. But we’ve held ourselves together and I think we can go home and hold our heads high.”