Sam Warburton names Farrell and Youngs in his Lions XV

for the Lions tour, he has worked diligently to improve his breakdown spoiling. I think Toby right now is the number one front-runner for the number 8. Toby’s in the same breath as the Kieran Reid, Sergio Parisse, those three for me ar the best number 8s in world rugby in the past decade."

Ben Youngs and Owen Farrell are among nine English players included in Sam Warburton's Lions XV, which he named in his column for 

The Times.

Canterbury, the world’s #1 rugby brand, has today announced a partnership with Wales and British & Irish Lions legend Sam Warburton which will see him support their activity both ahead of the Lions’ series against South Africa and beyond.

Warburton, the two-time undefeated Lions captain, will use his expertise and legendary status to help Canterbury engage fans across the world and build up excitement ahead of and throughout the series. Warburton will also play a key role in the brand’s activity with its Lions Origin Clubs – celebrating those teams who helped produce Lions players both past and present.

Warburton is a passionate supporter of the grass roots game and shares Canterbury’s vision of breaking down barriers within the game to help make rugby as inclusive as possible. As such, he will form a crucial part of Canterbury’s Made From All campaign, which celebrates how players and fans of the four home nations come together to form the Lions and the strength derived from this unity.

Sam Warburton said: “A Lions tour is the highlight of the rugby calendar and I can’t wait to support Canterbury’s plans for the series. As a former captain, I know how special the tour is for both players and fans, so I’m looking forward to working with Canterbury to help build that excitement and harness that level of support that I know is out there.”

He added: “I’m really proud to be working with Canterbury, a brand that is so synonymous with rugby and has such a rich heritage in the sport. Growing up, Canterbury was the only rugby brand that mattered, and I was always such a huge fan of their kit, so agreeing to partner with them was an easy decision for me. Not only that, they’re on a mission to make rugby more appealing to the masses and to support grassroots players, both of which are issues close to my heart and really appealed to me.”

DID YOU KNOW? Warburton joined a very exclusive club during the 2017 Tour to New Zealand, as he became only the second man to captain The British & Irish Lions twice.

DID YOU KNOW? This is the picture that illustrates the heights Williams has scaled to reach international rugby, starting off as a scaffolder. It wasn’t work for the faint-hearted, with Williams rigging scaffolding “over the top of a blast furnace, 300 feet from the ground” back in Wales.

WARBURTON SAID: “My bolter is Wales’s Johnny Williams at inside centre. He impressed me with his physicality and all-round game in the autumn and if he can build on that in the Six Nations then he has a real chance. Toby Flood recently told me how good he thought Williams was when they played together at Newcastle Falcons. His potential is huge.”

DID YOU KNOW? Williams revealed he had been diagnosed with testicular cancer, and would take time away from the game to undergo treatment before returning in 2020

DID YOU KNOW? Farrell held the record of youngest player ever to appear in English professional rugby union after playing for Saracens 11 days after his 17th birthday

DID YOU KNOW? Furlong comes from a farming family in the parish of Horeswood in County Wexford

WARBURTON SAID: “What about my captain? It is between Farrell and Itoje. It is such a close call. Both are definite starters (Farrell will be at 12 if not 10) and it makes perfect sense for an Englishman to be captain because most of the squad is likely to be English. I think it will be Farrell but, if I were making the decision, I would pick Itoje.”

DID YOU KNOW? So far in his rugby career, Itoje has won four English Premiership titles with Saracens, three European Rugby Champions Cup titles, and three Six Nations Championship titles

WARBURTON SAID: "Underhill is a shoo-in 

He then added following the first round of the Six Nations: "“Re-watching the Scotland game in readiness for this weekend’s game. Have to say, Hamish Watson was phenomenal. With Tipuric, Curry and Watson you have three world class players."

DID YOU KNOW? Before securing a professional contract, Underhill served an apprenticeship under his Granddad as a painter and decorator. The 24-year-old, who likes keeping busy, hasn’t ruled out a return to the trade when his rugby days are done.