Jones will be touring with the Lions for the fourth time, and he played in all three Tests during the 2009 series which was won 2-1 by the Springboks.

Jones says to wear the Lions jersey is a bond they will have forever.

“The word that was definitely used during the last couple of tours I was on is that custodianship once you become a Lion.

“You might not see or interact with people for a while, but you are all connected through that jersey and the home nations.

“That is something very special and hard to explain, but I would like to think that it hasn’t changed since before professionalism and to this very day.”

The touring party will be made of 11 English players and 10 Welsh players, while Ireland and Scotland each have eight representatives.

The South African-born Scotland winger, Duhan van der Merwe, has also been included in the 36-man squad.

The Lions will tackle Japan in a warm-up match ahead of the tour.

The Lions are set to tackle the Springboks in Johannesburg and Cape Town in July and August.

British and Irish Lions squad 2021:

Forwards (21)

Loosehead props - Mako Vunipola (Saracens and England), Wyn Jones (Scarlets and Wales), Rory Sutherland (Edinburgh and Scotland).

Hookers - Ken Owens (Scarlets and Wales), Jamie George (Saracens and England), Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs and England).

Tighthead props - Tadhg Furlong (Leinster and Ireland), Andrew Porter (Leinster and Ireland), Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors and Scotland).

Locks - Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys and Wales, Captain), Maro Itoje (Saracens and England), Iain Henderson (Ulster and Ireland), Tadhg Beirne (Munster and Ireland), Jonny Hill (Exeter Chiefs and England), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints and England).

Loose Forwards - Tom Curry (Sale Sharks and England), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys and Wales), Hamish Watson (Edinburgh and Scotland), Taulupe Faletau (Bath and Wales), Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs and England), Jack Conan (Leinster and Ireland).

Backs (16)

Scrumhalves - Conor Murray (Munster and Ireland), Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors and Scotland), Gareth Davies (Scarlets and Wales).

Flyhalves - Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints and Wales), Owen Farrell (Saracens and England), Finn Russell (Racing 92 and Scotland).

Centres - Robbie Henshaw (Leinster and Ireland), Chris Harris (Gloucester and Scotland), Bundee Aki (Connacht and Ireland).

Outside Backs -  Stuart Hogg (Exeter Chiefs and Scotland), Liam Williams (Scarlets and Wales), Anthony Watson (Bath and England), Louis Rees-Zammit (Gloucester and Wales), Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh and Scotland), Elliot Daly (Saracens and England), Josh Adams (Cardiff Blues and Wales).

@MorganPiek OFM Sport