“It simply isn’t an adventure worth telling if there aren’t any dragons” -J.R.R Tolkien.

For the first time since 1899 there will not be a Welshman present in a British and Irish Lions test team another damning statistic to underline the heart breaking steep decline of Welsh rugby on the world stage.

Since 1899, when Wales were first involved with a tour and the Lions played a Test series, at least one Welshman has been selected to start every Lions Test.

They have stood proudly in rugby history as the only nation to have provided players for every Lions Test for the last century.

Scotland last failed to provide a starter in 2017, Ireland in 1989 and England in 1950.

Wales have supplied a record ten players for a Lions test team on two occasions.

On Saturday August 19, 1950 a fullback from Gorseinon named Lewis Jones made history when he lined-up next to a record nine fellow Welshmen as the British Lions beat Australia in their own back yard.

Lewis Jones, Jack Matthews, Bleddyn Williams (c), Malcolm Thomas, Rex Willis, Dai Davies, John Robins, Rees Stephens, Bob Evans and Roy John stood alone – as members of the most Welsh dominated Lions test team in history.

In 2013 another ten Welshmen lined up against Australia in the third test that produced a rousing 41-16 victory for the Lions to clinch a series win.

Leigh Halfpenny Jonathan Davies Jamie Roberts George North Mike Phillips Richard Hibbard Adam Jones Alun Wyn Jones Dan Lydiate Toby Faletau, and if Sam Warburton had not been injured it would have been eleven players from Wales.

Sadly this time around there isn’t a single Welshman in the matchday 23 an indication of how far a mighty proud rugby nation has fallen.