A veteran of three Tours, Neil Back also holds the record as the oldest man to start a Test for the Lions – against the All Blacks in 2005.
That first Test in Christchurch, when aged 36 years and 160 days, was the fifth Lions Test cap of a decorated career for the back-row forward.
After starting out with Nottingham – Back then moved to Leicester Tigers and enjoyed 18 trophy-laden club seasons as a player and then coach.
Initially overlooked by England, Back had just started to earn some international recognition when he was called up by the Lions in 1997 to Tour South Africa.
Back – who often found himself battling teammate Richard Hill for the No.7 Lions jersey despite their successful partnership for England – came off the bench in the historic second Test win that decided the series and also started the third.
Then in 2001 Back picked up two more Test caps – and scored a try in the second Test defeat to the Wallabies.
And in what should have been the twilight of his career Back reached a career peak as the starting openside for Sir Clive Woodward’s 2003 World Cup winning England side before his third and final Lions Tour in 2005 – including that historic first Test in Christchurch.
Career
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British & Irish Lions Openside Flanker |
1997 - 2005 |
