That’s only happened once in the last four decades, in 2001, though the Borders contingent taking part in the multinational team’s four-yearly tours has sometimes numbered only one and has never exceeded half a dozen over that time.
Warren Gatland, head coach third time round for the Lions’ tour of South Africa this summer, is due to name his squad next month, and hopes are high that it will include at least a couple of Borderers or, failing that, more Scots than has become the norm of late.
Ahead of that announcement, here’s a look back at a dozen of the most recent Borders players to turn out for the Lions …
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. EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - MAY 22: Ross Ford, the Scotland hooker, who has been selected to replace the injured Jerry Flannery, holds the Lions shirt on May 22, 2009 in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
Kelso's Ross Ford getting ready in May 2009 to head out on that year's British and Irish Lions' tour of South Africa (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images) Photo: David Rogers
. 12 of the Borders' last Lions
Hawick's Stuart Hogg, pictured playing against Queensland Reds in Brisbane, Australia, in 2013 featured in that year's tour and 2017's New Zealand trip (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images) Photo: David Rogers
. 12 of the Borders' last Lions
Jedburgh's Greig Laidlaw, pictured playing against the Waikato Chiefs in Hamilton in New Zealand in 2017, was called up as a replacement for England's Ben Youngs (Photo: Michael Bradley/AFP via Getty Images) Photo: MICHAEL BRADLEY
1. 12 of the Borders' last Lions
Hawick's Stuart Hogg, pictured playing against Queensland Reds in Brisbane, Australia, in 2013 featured in that year's tour and 2017's New Zealand trip (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images) Photo: David Rogers
2. 12 of the Borders' last Lions
Jedburgh's Greig Laidlaw, pictured playing against the Waikato Chiefs in Hamilton in New Zealand in 2017, was called up as a replacement for England's Ben Youngs (Photo: Michael Bradley/AFP via Getty Images) Photo: MICHAEL BRADLEY
3. 12 of the Borders' last Lions
Former Border Reivers star Ryan Grant, seen here playing against the ACT Brumbies in June 2013 in Canberra, Australia, was called up as a replacement for Welshman Gethin Jenkins (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images) Photo: David Rogers
4. 12 of the Borders' last Lions
Ross Ford, pictured playing against the Golden Lions in June 2009 in Johannesburg in South Africa, was the last Borderer to make a test match appearance for the British and Irish Lions (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images) Photo: David Rogers