Andy Farrell’s British & Irish Lions class of 2025 stand on the verge of a place in history.
Already 2-0 up in their Test series with Australia, the team led by head coach Farrell and captain Maro Itoje will seal legendary status if they clinch a 3-0 clean sweep by winning Saturday’s third Test in Sydney.
In such a situation, the Lions would become the first team since 1927 to record a whitewash and the first since 1974 to record an unbeaten tour on foreign soil. So, there is plenty for the Lions to play for in their final Wallabies clash – and plenty for the hosts to defend.
The Lions have been touring for 137 years and only twice have they come away with a clean sweep, with only the first ever official Test tour – a 3-0 win in South Africa in 1891 – to add to 1927.
So, if the series does end 3-0, where would the 2025 Lions stand in the pantheon of the greatest ever sides to wear the famous red jersey?
Here, Mail Sport’s ALEX BYWATER ranks the top 10 most successful Lions tours of all time.
Hugo Keenan scores the series-winning try at the Melbourne Cricket Ground next week to set up a shot at a whitewash
Andy Farrell can become just the third coach to secure a series clean sweep
10. 1927 – Argentina 0 British & Irish Lions 4
Head coach: James Baxter (Eng) Captain: David MacMyn (Sco) Top Test points scorer: Ernie Hammett (Eng, 40)
You have to go back to 1927 for the last time the Lions recorded a clean sweep in a Test series abroad. On Saturday, the 2025 Lions can finally end the 98-year wait.
In 1927, it was Argentina the Lions travelled to – not one of the traditional big three southern hemisphere sides. These days, the Pumas are very competitive and beat the 2025 Lions in their pre-tour fixture in Dublin. But back at the start of the 20th century, Argentina were a very different beast.
The Lions hammered them in 1927, winning 37-0, 46-0, 34-3 and 43-0. In truth, they provided poor opposition although as they say, a win is a win.
The 1927 British & Irish Lions take on provincial Argentinian side Universitario-Gimnasia y Esgrima on the most recent whitewash tour
9. 1959 – Australia 0 Lions 2
Head coach: OB Glasgow (Ire) Captain: Ronnie Dawson (Ire) Top Test points scorer: David Hewitt (Ire, 16)
This may appear to be a whitewash, but in those days, teams used to tour both Australia and New Zealand and that year’s party was comfortably beaten by the All Blacks later on by three Tests to one.
That means the trip cannot be deemed as successful as others – but a series win can never be decried.
Not content with playing six matches in Australia and 25 in New Zealand, the 1959 side tagged on a pair of victories in Canada on their way home, beating British Columbia and the Eastern Canada All-Stars.
The 1959 Lions squad pictured before heading off to Australia and New Zealand
8. 1896 – South Africa 1 Lions 3
Head coach: Roger Walker (Eng) Captains: Johnny Hammond (Eng) and Thomas Crean (Ire) Top Test points scorer: JF Byrne (Eng, 12)
This was the second Lions tour of South Africa and was incredibly successful.
The team won the Test series against the Springboks 3-1 and over the course of a two-month trip, went 17 games unbeaten. They scored 204 points and conceded just 45.
Given the strength of South Africa today, it would be unthinkable for any team to have such success in the Rainbow Nation.
7. 1989 – Australia 1 Lions 2
Head coach: Ian McGeechan (Sco) Captain: Finlay Calder (Sco) Top Test points scorer: Gavin Hastings (Sco, 28)
It must be remembered that the Lions’ 2-1 series win in Australia in 1989 was the team’s first series success since 1974, so it had been a long, long wait for glory.
No team that consistently loses can hope for loyal and regular following. So, importantly, the 1989 Lions breathed new life back into the team’s concept after years of misery.
Their achievement was remarkable as Australia were then a fine side with world-class players such as David Campese and Nick Farr-Jones. The Wallabies would go on to win the 1991 World Cup, but they were no match for the Lions two years previously.
It was also the first of four tours as head coach for one of the greatest Lions icons, Sir Ian McGeechan, who paired up with fellow Scots Finlay Calder as captain and Gavin Hastings as the main attacking threat to become the only Lions side to lose the first Test and still come back to claim a series victory.
The 1989 series comes to the boil with Mike Griffiths, Robert Norster and David Young all getting stuck in for the Lions
6. 2025 – Australia 0 Lions 2 (as things stand)
Head coach: Andy Farrell (Eng) Captain: Maro Itoje (Eng) Top Test points scorer: Finn Russell (Sco, 13)
If the Lions can make it a 3-0 series whitewash in Australia this summer, their achievement would be remarkable and deserve plenty of praise.
Farrell, Itoje and the squad have done a fine job. Of that there can be no doubt.
But it is my opinion that the quality of this Wallabies side – ranked sixth in the world and deprived of key men through injury – means that even if it does end 3-0, this year’s Lions don’t make the team’s all-time list of top five.
However, what is clear is that the Lions will have achieved all they possibly could do if they win in Sydney.
If they don’t and Australia make it 2-1, then the 2025 tour will have to go down in this list!
Australia are not a force anymore but the Lions have done the job they had to do
5. 2013 – Australia 1 Lions 2
Head coach: Warren Gatland (NZ) Captains: Sam Warburton and Alun Wyn Jones (both Wal) Top Test points scorer: Leigh Halfpenny (Wal, 49)
Australia weren’t world-beaters in 2013. But they were a better side than they are today with players of the calibre of Israel Folau, Will Genia and Michael Hooper in their XV.
That meant victory was far from guaranteed. And when the Wallabies levelled the series at 1-1 after losing the opening Test, they had all the momentum going into the decider.
Then came one of the true great Lions displays – a 41-16 victory in Sydney. Oh how this year’s Lions will be hoping for a repeat.
Coach Warren Gatland courted controversy by dropping Brian O’Driscoll for the game, but his decision was proved the right one as the Lions romped home. It was a stunning display and sealed a first Lions series win in 16 years.
George North waves goodbye to Will Genia en route to the first Lions series victory of the 21st century
4. 2017 – New Zealand 1 Lions 1
Head coach: Warren Gatland (NZ) Captains: Sam Warburton (Wal) and Peter O’Mahony (Ire) Top Test points scorer: Owen Farrell (Eng, 31)
No, the Lions didn’t win in New Zealand in 2017. But neither did they lose and that is highly significant given the class of opposition.
For me, this tour was still a huge success. The All Blacks in their own backyard is as tough as it gets and in 2017, their team had won the last two World Cups in 2011 and 2015.
Steve Hansen’s side was a who’s who of global greats – Kieran Read, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Beauden Barrett, Julian Savea at his peak and Ardie Savea at his beginning.
The 2017 tour was one of only two tied series, along with a 2-2 draw with South Africa in 1955
The 2017 All Blacks were one of the most formidable teams the Lions have ever faced, as double World Cup winners with a who’s who of rugby greats in their lineup
But the Lions matched them all the way, winning in Wellington and drawing the last Test in Auckland.
New Zealand coach Hansen described a drawn series as ‘a bit like kissing your sister’ but as the years go by, the Lions recording a share of the spoils looks an even better achievement.
Some might argue they got lucky with Ken Owens escaping being penalised at the end of the third Test. But the Lions survived and a draw was a fair result.
The image of the two captains Read and Sam Warburton lifting the series trophy together surrounded by their respective team-mates is an iconic one.
3. 1997 – South Africa 1 Lions 2
Head coach: Ian McGeechan (Sco) Captain: Martin Johnson (Eng) Top Test points scorer: Neil Jenkins (Wal, 41)
The 1997 tour is looked back on almost mythically, predominantly because of the legendary Living With Lions documentary that was produced showing unfiltered behind-the-scenes action of the tour.
Jim Telfer’s ‘Everest’ speech and Doddie Weir’s ‘mistaken identity’ quote will never, ever get old either.
Jerry Guscott celebrates with Ian McGeechan after his drop-goal in the second Test won the series for the 1997 Lions
The 1997 tour was made all the more memorable for the epic Living With Lions documentary
On that trip, journalists would ring squad members’ rooms for an interview – very different to today. It was the first Lions tour in rugby’s professional era, but was still amateur in many ways.
The playing achievement of McGeechan’s side, however, was extraordinary, winning 2-1 against the side that claimed the 1995 World Cup with Jeremy Guscott’s drop-goal the iconic moment.
No one gave the Lions a chance, and they shocked everyone against the odds.
2. 1971 – New Zealand 1 Lions 2
Head coach: Carwyn James (Wal) Captain: John Dawes (Wal) Top Test points scorer: Phil Bennett (Wal, 18)
Gareth Edwards goes bursting through the All Blacks defence in 1971
Barry John, one of the most iconic Lions, inspired a distinctly Welsh side to what remains the only series victory in New Zealand
For all the modern-day successes, the old ones are the best. And the 1971 team remains the only one to win a series in New Zealand.
Like 2013 in Australia, it was dominated by Welsh figures, led by coach Carwyn James, captain John Dawes and legendary figures Barry John, Sir Gareth Edwards and JPR Williams.
And it was the late Williams’ remarkable long-range drop goal that stopped the All Blacks from winning the fourth Test and securing a series draw.
1. 1974 – South Africa 0 Lions 3
Head coach: Syd Millar (Ire) Captain: Willie John McBride (Ire) Top Test points scorer: Phil Bennett (Wal, 26)
The Lions went unbeaten on the 1974 tour across 22 matches – only failing to win the fourth and final Test against the Springboks, a 13-all draw
Gareth Edwards celebrates a Lions try on a tour packed with some of the most iconic players to have worn the famous red jersey
Willie John McBride is chaired off by Bobby Windsor, Gordon Brown and Ian McLauchlan after the third Test victory sealed a series win
It is unarguable that the 1974 Lions was the most successful tour in the iconic team’s history.
Not only did they beat South Africa in three Tests, drawing one, they also went unbeaten across a mammoth 22-game trip. For contrast, this year’s Lions will only play nine matches on Australian soil.
An iconic squad, with an iconic captain in Willie John McBride, and an iconic nickname – the Invincibles.
One day, a Lions team might surpass those who played in 1974. But it will take some doing.
