The Captains

The LIONS: The Complete History of the British and Irish Rugby Union Team features unique contributions from each of the surviving captains of the Lions and of their Test opponents - 27 in all.

From Karl Mullen, Ron Elvidge and Nev Cottrell in 1950 to Martin Johnson and John Eales in 2001, the captains have all contributed an introduction to the chapters on their respective tours.

Other great names among them include Colin Meads, Wilson Whineray, Sean Fitzpatrick, Nick Farr-Jones and Morne du Plessis. It is hoped that Brian O'Driscoll and the captain of the 2005 All Blacks will also add their reflections on the latest tour and Test series before The LIONS' publication in September.

The captains who have contributed to The LIONS are:

British and Irish Lions:

• Karl Mullen (1950)
• Ronnie Dawson (1959)
• Tom Kiernan (1968)
• John Dawes (1971)
• Willie John McBride (1974)
• Phil Bennett (1977)
• Bill Beaumont (1980)
• Ciaran Fitzgerald (1983)
• Finlay Calder (1989)
• Gavin Hastings (1993)
• Martin Johnson (1997 and 2001)

New Zealand:

• Ron Elvidge (1950)
• Wilson Whineray (1959)
• Brian Lochore (1966)
• Colin Meads (1971)
• Tane Norton (1977)
• Andy Dalton (1983)
• Sean Fitzpatrick (1993)

South Africa:

• Johan Claassen (1962)
• Dawie de Villiers (1968)
• Hannes Marais (1974)
• Morne du Plessis (1980)
• Gary Teichmann (1997)

Australia:

• Nev Cottrell (1950)
• John Thornett (1966)
• Nick Farr-Jones (1989)
• John Eales (2001)

The captains' contributions offer a rare personal insight into the Lions tours by the men for whom the pressures were greatest and the stakes were highest. Click on the link below to read some of their thoughts and recollections.

Read extracts from captains' contributions.