Conor Murray: Captain's armband no guarantee of place in Lions Test XV

The new skipper has played under some legendary captains but he is determined to be himself as he takes on the extra responsibilities that come with being the tourists' main man

Conor Murray during a British and Irish Lions gym session in South Africa. Picture: INPHO/Dan Sheridan

Conor Murray’s name is to be etched into a long and illustrious roll call of Irish players who have captained the Lions but the Munster scrum-half is determined to work off a blank page and write his own chapter as he braces for the weeks ahead in South Africa.

From Willie John McBride to Brian O’Driscoll, and Karl Mullen to Paul O’Connell, there has been an endless supply of leaders sourced from these shores for the men in red and Murray has been afforded the same honour on the back of the injury to Alun Wyn Jones in Murrayfield last Saturday.