Leader.

Robbie Henshaw will be handing over his Lions culture duties this year as the squad gets set to fly over to South Africa to take on the mighty Springboks.

The Leinster centre was in charge of all things Irish culture for the Lions tour of New Zealand back in 2017, speaking the native tongue and helping the lads to learn Fields of Athenry and other songs.

Henshaw was an obvious choice given his love for traditional Irish music, having played in a number of festivals, including Fleadh Cheoil.

But he’s going to offer up the role to Tadhg Furlong, who no doubt has a song or two in his locker, with perhaps the help of the likes of Tadhg Beirne and Conor Murray.

“I think I’m going to hand it over to Tadhg Furlong this year. I did it for the last tour – I spoke a bit of Irish in New Zealand and led the Fields of Athenry for choir practice and for songs,” Henshaw told us.

After being greeted by the haka we’d sing the Fields of Athenry and we’d sing a few other songs,” 

“But yeah, I think I’m going to hand it over to Tadhg this year. He has to come up with a song – an Irish song. I don’t know who’ll talk the Irish – maybe Tadhg Beirne might do the Irish or maybe Conor Murray.

“I’ll potentially bring the accordion. I think Paddy O’Reilly, the bag man, is travelling and he’s huge for trad and folk and a bit of country and he’s making me bring it. So we’ll have a few sing songs.”

No doubt there’ll be plenty of Irish influence this summer.