British & Irish Lions legends set to be part of Andy Farrell's coaching staff in 2025

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With experience from his Lions tours in 2009 and 2013, Jones, now 43, has been instrumental in guiding Harlequins to the Champions Cup semifinals, marked by their thrilling 42-41 victory over Bordeaux Bègles.

Adding to the coaching mix, Scotland's head honcho, Gregor Townsend, has also emerged as a contender for a position during the Australian tour.

Jones told the Times' Ruck Podcast. "If Faz wanted to take me, I'd bite his hand off. 100 per cent, I think I could do a job as a scrum coach for the Lions.

"It's a funny one with the Lions, as a scrum coach, you're not going to change a lot of technique as these are the best props from the home unions. There's not a lot you can do around that. But if that job ever came up, I'd bite their hand off. I've been twice as a player.

"I don't think there's many ex-Lions players coaching teams at the scrum anyway. Is Ieuan Evans chairman this year? I'll give Ieuan a ring and see if he can sort me out!"

Joining Jones in potential roles are other Lions luminaries like Paul O'Connell, currently collaborating with Farrell at Ireland, and former England fly-half Jonny Wilkinson, who could take up the mantle of specialist kicking coach.

A distinguished panel consisting of 12 experts, among them former Lions captains Bill Beaumont, Phil Bennett, and Finlay Calder, were tasked with nominating players based on their skill and individual impact on the Lions.

Contributors from both the Guardian and the Observer, including correspondents, editors, and other knowledgeable figures, also had a hand in shaping the final rankings.

50. Robert Jones (Wales) - Scrum-half - 1989 - P3 W2 D0 L1 - 73

49. Tom Smith (Scotland) - Prop - 1997, 2001 - P6 W3 D0 L3 - 75

48. Matt Dawson (England) - Scrum-half - 1997, 2001, 2005 - P7 W2 D0 L5 - 76

47. David Sole (Scotland) - Prop - 1989 - P3 W2 L1 - 90

46. Rhys Williams (Wales) - Lock - 1955, 1959 - P10 W5 L5 - 94

45. Neil Jenkins (Wales) - Fly-half - 1997, 2001 - P4 W2 D0 L2 - 99

44. Jason Robinson (England) - Fullback/Wing - 2001, 2005 - P5 W1 D0 L4 - 105

43. Roger Uttley (England) - Back row - 1974 - P4 W3 D1 L0 - 107

42. Bobby Windsor (Wales) - Hooker - 1974, 1977 - P5 W3 D1 L1 - 109

41. Jonny Wilkinson (England) - Fly-half - 2001, 2005 - P6 W1 D1 L4 - 110

40. Rob Andrew (England) - Fly-half - 1989, 1993 - P5 W3 D0 L2 - 110

39. Paul O'Connell (Ireland) - Lock - 2005, 2009 - P6 W1 D0 L5 - 114

38. Peter Wheeler (England) - Hooker - 1977, 1980 - P7 W2 L5 - 119

37. David Duckham (England) - Centre - 1971 - P3 W1 D1 L1 - 128

36. Jack Kyle (Ireland) - Fly-half - 1950 - P6 W2 D1 L3 - 147

35. Finlay Calder (Scotland) - Back row - 1989 - P3 W2 D0 L1 - 149

34. Dean Richards (England) - No. 8 - 1989, 1993 - P6 W3 D0 L3 - 174

33. Dickie Jeeps (England) - Scrum-half - 1955, 1959, 1962 - P13 W4 D1 L8 - 191

32. Bill Beaumont (England) - Lock - 1977, 1980 - P7 W2 D0 L5 - 191

31. Graham Price (Wales) - Prop - 1977, 1980, 1983 - P12 W2 D0 L10 - 204

30. Jim Telfer (Scotland) - No. 8 - 1996, 1968 - P8 W2 D1 L5 - 204

29. Syd Millar (Ireland) - Prop - 1959, 1962, 1968 - P9 W2 D2 L5 - 219

28. Lawrence Dallaglio (England) - No. 8 - 1997 - P3 W2 D0 L1 - 219

27. Fergus Slattery (Ireland) - Flanker - 1971, 1974 - P4 W3 D1 L0 - 232

26. Mike Teague (England) - Flanker - 1989, 1993 - P3 W3 D0 L0 - 238

25. Ieuan Evans (Wales) - Wing - 1989, 1993, 1997 - P7 W4 D0 L3 - 258

24. John Dawes (Wales) - Centre - 1971 - P4 W2 D1 L1 - 258

23 Cliff Morgan (Wales) - Fly-half - 1955 - P4 W2 D0 L2 - 272

22. Richard Hill (England) - Back row - 1997, 2001, 2005 - P5 W3 D0 L2 - 286

21. Tony O'Reilly (Ireland) - Wing - 1955, 1959 - P10 W5 D0 L5 - 287

20. JJ Williams (Wales) - Wing - 1974, 1977 - P7 W4 D1 L2 - 300

19. Scott Gibbs (Wales) - Centre - 1993, 1997 - P5 W3 D0 L2 - 305

18. Ian McGeechan (Scotland) - Centre - 1974, 1977 - P8 W4 D1 L3 - 315

17. Keith Wood (Ireland) - Hooker - 1997, 2001 - P5 W3 D0 L2 - 325

16. Gavin Hastings (Scotland) - Fullback - 1989, 1993 - P6 W3 D0 L3 - 337

15. Gordon Brown (Scotland) - Lock - 1971, 1974, 1977 - P8 W5 D1 L2 - 346

14. Andy Irvine (Scotland) - Fullback/Wing - 1974, 1977, 1980 - P9 W3 D1 L5 - 346

13. Jeremy Guscott (England) - Centre - 1989, 1993, 1997 - P8 W5 D0 L3 - 362

12. Fran Cotton (England) - Prop - 1974, 1977 - P7 W4 D1 L2 - 375

11. Ian McLauchlan (Scotland) - Prop - 1971, 1974 - P8 W5 D2 L1 - 382

10. Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland) - Centre - 2001, 2005, 2009 - P6 W1 D0 L5 - 399

9. Phil Bennett (Wales) - Fly-half - 1974, 1977 - P8 W4 D1 L3 - 411

8. Mervyn Davies (Wales) - No. 8 - 1971, 1974 - P8 W5 D2 L1 - 448

7. Mike Gibson (Ireland) - Centre - 1966, 1968, 1971 - P12 W2 D2 L8 - 489

6. Gerald Davies (Wales) - Wing - 1968, 1971 - P5 W2 D1 L2 - 495

5. Barry John (Wales) - Fly-half - 1968, 1971 - P5 W2 D1 L2 - 501

4. JPR Williams (Wales) - Fullback - 1971, 1974 - P8 W5 D2 L1 - 529

3. Martin Johnson (England) - Lock - 1993, 1997, 2001 - P8 W4 D0 L4 - 535

2. Willie John McBride (Ireland) - Lock - 1962, 1966, 1968, 1971, 1974 - P17 W5 D3 L9 - 546

1. Gareth Edwards (Wales) - Scrum-half - 1968, 1971, 1974 - P10 W5 D3 L2 - 574