At club level, Leinster provide 12 players – nearly a quarter of the squad – and it could have been more.

Fly-half Sam Prendergast was strongly fancied to go on the tour, but Finn Russell, Fin Smith and Marcus Smith were preferred at 10.

Ryan Baird, Jamie Osborne and Robbie Henshaw were also outsiders for inclusion.

Glasgow Warriors and Northampton, champions of last season’s United Rugby Championship and Premiership respectively, supply four players each, while captain Itoje is joined by Saracens team-mates Ben Earl and Daly.

There are 15 clubs represented in the 38-strong squad, including eight of the 10 Premiership teams, three of the four Irish provinces and both Scottish professional sides.

Blair Kinghorn, who plays for French side Toulouse, is the only player who plays their club rugby outside Britain and Ireland.

There is more than just pride at stake for those domestic club sides. They, like the players, are part of a newly-minted profit sharing agreement with the Lions. The more players they have on tour, they larger the pay cheque at the end.

It has been estimated , externalthat Leinster’s healthy dozen will earn their club in excess of £1m.