Lions wouldn't feel the same if we took a short-haul flight

A Lions tour to France? Er... no thanks, says Maro Itoje, as the series-winning captain eyes a clean sweep in Australia

- Robert Kitson

If Maro Itoje did not already know that leading the British & Irish Lions was a big deal, he does now. Since his side took an unbeatable 2-0 series lead against the Wallabies he has even had a congratulatory message from the UK foreign secretary, David Lammy, who was in Melbourne for the game last Saturday. Was he asking Itoje to consider dipping his toes into politics? "No, no... he has some world issues to try and sort out before that."

Ask Itoje about his future vision for the Lions, however, and his manifesto is crystal clear. This tour has been the England captain's third in a red jersey and with every passing year his personal appreciation of the Lions continues to grow. "It's been without a shadow of a doubt one of the highlights of my career. When I am old and grey these occasions and these tours are going to be one of the experiences I look back on with extreme fondness."