In the long and storied history of the British and Irish Lions, there are few players whose legacy would compare to that of Brian O’Driscoll.
Not only is the Irishman routinely mentioned in discussions about the greatest Lions of all-time, there are some who would argue that he’s the greatest centre ever to play the game.
Beyond his brilliance for both country and club, Leinster, the Lions became a huge part of O’Driscoll’s career over four tours.
In Australia in 2001, he scored one of the all-time great Lions tries in the first Test, waltzing through with an electric burst of pace and quicksilver footwork.
In 2005, he was named captain for the tour of New Zealand but his involvement was cut short when he suffered a dislocated shoulder following a horrific spear tackle just 41 seconds into the first Test. He was a key player once again in the tour of South Africa in 2009, before his biggest heartbreak in professional rugby came in 2013.
Back where it all began in Australia, O’Driscoll was controversially dropped for the decisive final Test by head coach Warren Gatland, a match the tourists subsequently won.
Huw Jones is one of eight Scots to have been selected to represent the Lions Down Under
The Glasgow centre watched the squad announcement alongside his team-mates this week
Jones hopes to follow in the footsteps of his idol and Irish rugby legend Brian O’Driscoll
Yet, nonetheless, O’Driscoll remains one of the finest players ever to pull on the famous red jersey. How do you follow in those kind of footsteps? A tall order, no doubt. But it’s a challenge Huw Jones is thoroughly looking forward to over these next few months.
Jones was one of eight Scotland players selected in Andy Farrell’s 38-man squad for the tour Down Under. Having grown up idolising O’Driscoll, Jones admits it would be the ultimate honour if he could get his hands on the 13 shirt and become a Test Lion.
‘I’ve watched all the Lions tours going all the way back to when I was a kid,’ said the 31-year-old Scot. ‘I idolised these guys when I was growing up.
‘I remember watching the tour against the All Blacks in 2005. I would have been 11 at the time, but I was totally immersed in it all. Me and my mate played rugby together at the same club.
‘We’d be speaking constantly at school about what players we liked and who we thought should be in the team.
‘For me, it was Brian O’Driscoll. He’s one of my all-time rugby heroes. Most people will tell you he’s one of the greatest to ever wear that red jersey.
‘To have the chance now to follow in his footsteps and wear that 13 jersey would be really special.
‘We are following in the footsteps of true rugby legends. As a player, I enjoy the history of it all. It’s really inspiring.’
Head coach Andy Farrell has named a strong 38-man squad ahead of the summer tour
It has been quite the journey for Jones. Four years ago, when the Lions last went on tour to South Africa, he was in the international wilderness.
There was a period from 2021 until 2023 when he went the best part of two years without winning a single cap for Scotland.
A brief spell with Harlequins in the Premiership was followed by a move back to Glasgow Warriors — and it’s been under Franco Smith that he has really blossomed.
Not only has he been back to the form he showed when he initially burst on to the scene in 2017 and 2018, Jones has actually gone beyond that.
His partnership with Sione Tuipulotu has been key for club and country — and he admits it would be special if the ‘Huwipulotu’ double act lines up in a Lions midfield.
‘I’m not going to lie, it was extremely nerve-wracking watching the squad being announced. I couldn’t believe how long it took,’ he said.
‘We were told to be in the room for 2pm. I made sure I arrived literally at 1.59pm as I didn’t want to wait for too long!
‘I’ll be honest, there was a point when I wasn’t even sure I wanted to be in the room to watch it.
Jones is excited at the prospect of linking up with club partner Sione Tuipilotu
‘I thought about just taking myself away from it all. If you watch the video back you can probably see the nerves on my face.
‘But it feels amazing to be selected, just a great mixture of relief, happiness and excitement. As soon as my named was called out, I was just desperate to hear Sione’s name as well.
‘I’ve dreamt of this since I was a kid. In the last year or so, it’s become a goal that I’ve really been chasing. I didn’t want to think about it too much, but that’s sometimes easier said than done. It’s a dream come true.
‘Sione and I have obviously built such a special relationship. It’s great that we are able to share this together.
‘It’s great for the club in general to have four players selected. Since Franco came in, he’s moved this club forward in a big way.
‘He’s improved us as players and moved our careers forward. We’ve had a lot of guys break through and establish themselves with Scotland over the past couple of years.
‘To now have four guys selected to go on a Lions tour is really just testament to everything that Franco has built here at the club.
‘I gave Franco a hug but it was never going to be too emotional — he’s just focused on preparing the team for the game at the weekend!
Fly-half Finn Russell has been called up for a third time after making the squad in 2017 and 2021
‘That’s just what he’s like as a guy, always focused on the next game, but this just shows that everything he asks of us as players can pay off.
‘Along with myself and Sione, it’s super-exciting to pretty much have our entire back line going on the tour — Finn (Russell), Duhie (Van der Merwe) and Blair (Kinghorn).
‘But you obviously have to keep Darcy (Graham) in mind as well. We’re gutted for him. It would have been great if we were all selected.
‘Hopefully we can gel together and also gel with the other players in the back line as well and build connections. Combinations are so important.’
Jones will be back in action for Glasgow today when they travel to face Benetton in the penultimate round of fixtures in the United Rugby Championship.
He had been out of action since Scotland’s final Six Nations match against France back in March due to a hand injury. But he’s desperate to regain top form with Glasgow over the final few weeks of the season heading into the URC play-offs.
He added: ‘There’s still some big games to come with Glasgow over the last few weeks of the season. After being picked for the Lions, it’s not like you just sit back now and celebrate.
‘We’ve got some massive games coming up — and we want to back-up what we did last season.
‘Myself and Sione have both been back in training now for a couple of weeks. All being well, the two of us will be back playing over the next couple of weeks.’
