Head coach Farrell said that there are as many as six players in contention for the Lions captaincy, with the skipper not learning of his appointment until shortly before the squad's announcement on 8 May.

"There are maybe four, five, six on the list," he said.

"When you narrow it down - this is the right number to fit the schedule and what you need and which hybrid players can play in different positions then you consider who are the leaders within that, what are the dynamics of a leadership group and who is going to be capable of being themselves and comfortable in and around all that.

"It takes a little bit of a process, rather than diving straight in."

Ireland captain Caelan Doris, England skipper Maro Itoje and Wales counterpart Jac Morgan are all contenders.