Only one player has previously led the Lions on successive tours – England’s Martin Johnson in 1997 and 2001. Warburton led the Lions to their first series win in 16 years in Australia in 2013.
The Lions haven’t won a series in New Zealand since John Dawes led the 1971 team to a 2-1 victory with one further game drawn. There were 13 Welshmen involved in that tour, while in 1977, when Phil Bennett led the side to New Zealand, there were 18 Welsh players involved.
The first Welshman to tour with the Lions was Llandovery College, Cambridge University and Llanelli forward Willie Thomas in 1888. The first Welshman to play in a Test match was the Cardiff centre Gwyn Nicholls in Australia in 1899.
The first Welshman to be honoured with the captaincy of the Lions in a Test match was Teddy Morgan, against Australia on 23 July, 1904.
The 2017 Lions, coached by Warren Gatland, will play 10 matches, including three Tests against the world champions All Blacks.
| Match Date | Match | Venue | Kick Off | |
| Saturday, 3 June | New Zealand Provincial Barbarians | Toll Stadium, Whangarei | 7:35pm | |
| Wednesday, 7 June | Blues | Eden Park Auckland | 7:35pm | |
| Saturday, 10 June | Crusaders | AMI Stadium Christchurch | 7:35pm | |
| Tuesday, 13 June | Highlanders | Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin | 7:35pm | |
| Saturday, 17 June | Maori All Blacks | Rotorua International Stadium | 7:35pm | |
| Tuesday, 20 June | Chiefs | FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton | 7:35pm | |
| Saturday, 24 June | All Blacks | Eden Park Auckland | 7:35pm | |
| Tuesday, 27 June | Hurricanes | Westpac Stadium Wellington | 7:35pm | |
| Saturday, 1 July | All Blacks | Westpac Stadium Wellington | 7:35pm | |
| Saturday, 8 July | All Blacks | Eden Park Auckland | 7:35pm |
