As the most eagerly anticipated and in-demand Tour ever draws closer, Lions Rugby Travel's Ultimate Fan got up close and personal with the British & Irish Lions for the very first time at the squad announcement.

Craig Jones, who describes himself as ‘a humble tighthead prop from Shrewsbury’, was hand-picked out of the thousands of people who are preparing to travel to the land of the long white cloud to see Warren Gatland’s squad named in person.

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“I got to go to the Lions Squad Announcement as someone who has booked to go to New Zealand this summer, which was a fantastic opportunity for me,” he said.

“It’s hard to put into words what a brilliant experience that was – there are thousands of Lions fans preparing to travel out there, so to be the one representing all four nations at the announcement was fantastic.

“It was like a pandora’s box of Lions legends; I saw Willie John McBride in reception, Paul O’Connell going for a coffee, and the coaches were all milling around.

“Seeing John Spencer on the stage and then Sam [Warburton] coming out as Tour captain was amazing – he’s a great choice and I was lucky enough to share a few words with him.”

With the Lions’ departure very much on the horizon, there is now extremely