Alun WynJones

A full 12 years after playing his part in a titanic battle with the Springboks for The British & Irish Lions in 2009, Alun Wyn Jones returned to South Africa in 2021 as captain.

It says a lot for his longevity that Jones has featured in each of the last 12 Lions Tests with his greatest hour coming in 2013 when he captained the Lions in the decisive third Test win in Sydney to seal a first series win in 16 years.

Jones was given the Lions captaincy after Sam Warburton's injury sustained in the second Test defeat in Melbourne against the Wallabies.

And he became the first substitute captain to lead out a Lions side for a final Test since 1904 – and was part of a superb pack display that inspired a 41-16 victory.

Four years later he started all three Tests once again in the 1-1 series draw in New Zealand to complete the set of Lions opponents.

To go full circle and return to the site of your first Tour though, is remarkable. Funnily enough, in the third Test in 2009, Jones replaced Simon Shaw, who achieved the same feat.

He was also on the losing side following a successful kick from South African fly-half Morne Steyn in 2009 and 2021.

Since 2017, Jones has succeeded Warburton as Wales skipper, leading them to the Grand Slam in 2019, a World Cup semi-final later that year, and another Six Nations title in 2021.

He succeeded Warburton in leading the Lions in 2021, the latest achievement in an incredible career.

Despite a potentially Tour-ending shoulder injury against Japan, the second row made an astounding recovery to match Lions legend Graham Price’s achievement of playing 12 consecutive Tests.

With 160 caps to his name, of which 148 have come for Wales and 12 for the Lions, he is the most capped player in the history of international rugby.

Since making his debut in 2006, he has won three Grand Slams, a further two Six Nations titles, and has now gone on four British & Irish Lions Tours.