Lions legend McBride backs Ireland’s Doris for captaincy

Caelan Doris, according to legendary captain Willie John McBride, is the ideal candidate to lead the British and Irish Lions in Australia this summer.

Prior to the three Test matches against the Wallabies in London on May 8, head coach Andy Farrell will name his captain and squad.

Possible tour captains for Ireland are Maro Itoje and England’s Doris Doris.

McBride, who led the Lions on their unbeaten tour of South Africa in 1974, told BBC Sport NI, “I can’t go beyond Caelan Doris, I hope he gets it.”

“He obviously possesses the integrity and loyalty of those who are around him.”

He has a good rapport with the referees, and I think that’s another factor. That is very significant.

The captaincy is “always a talking point,” according to McBride, who won a record 17 caps for the Lions while on five Lions tours.

He added that he was fortunate that he had “been around quite a long time and I’d learned a lot of the things you should and shouldn’t do” during the 1974 “Invincibles” tour of South Africa.

After serving as Ireland’s captain for the 2024 Six Nations and the official role for the November Tests last year, McBride says the 27-year-old “has enough experience.”

He’s been a member of the Irish team for a while and has a lot of his success, McBride continued.

He is “aware of all the ins and outs,” as well as the dos and don’ts. Andy Farrell will keep him in good health, I’m sure of that.

“You don’t need to be the team’s best player,” he said. I was undoubtedly not the best player on the team when I was captain.

However, it’s about enabling them to work as a unit.