Not many can say that they have played for and against The British & Irish Lions.
Fewer still can claim to have scored for and against the tourists. Elliot Daly has done both.
This is the story of his rise from talented youngster to history maker.
Swiss Army Knife
The Croydon-born Daly is noted as one of the most versatile operators in world rugby, capable of covering centre, wing and full-back.
And that versatility extends beyond rugby, with Daly showing prodigious promise as a cricketer, representing England Under-15s and Surrey.
But when push came to shove it was within rugby that Daly would earn his corn.
Nicknamed 'Briefcase' after arriving to Wasps' Acton graining ground in full school uniform during sixth form, Daly became the second-youngest player to represent the club when he debuted against Exeter Chiefs as a 17-year-old in the Anglo-Welsh Cup.
Blessed with searing pace, dextrous footwork and a cannon of a left foot, Daly quickly cemented himself as a bona fide star of English rugby, earning international recognition with England in the 2016 Six Nations after turning out for the Saxons and Barbarians.
Eddie Jones, his then-coach for England, was quick to highlight Daly's arsenal of talents, comparing him to a 'Swiss Army knife' ahead of the back's international debut against Ireland at Twickenham.
Daly swiftly asserted his place in Jones' England plans, starting at wing for the team's successful 2017 Six Nations and by that point Lions head coach Warren Gatland had taken notice, naming him to that year's Tour of New Zealand.
Lions Legend
Selection to a Lions Tour ranks among the highest honour any player representing the home unions can achieve.
It is a celebration of what makes rugby special, a showcase of how sport can unite people from different backgrounds and cultures.
A call to serve a single and noble purpose and create a once-in-a-lifetime experience, forged upon 137 years of history and tradition.
Yet Daly's first brush with The Lions was on the opposing side in 2013, starting for Barbarians in Hong Kong and kicking a penalty in a 59-8 defeat.
Now, he was about to don the famous red jersey and fulfil a lifelong dream but not even he could have imagined what was to transpire in New Zealand.
Having impressed in the warm-up matches, including a masterful display in a 34-6 victory over the Chiefs where he made 46 metres in 59 minutes, the versatile back was given the nod on the left wing by Gatland for the first Test against the All Blacks at Eden Park.
There, Daly had a hand in one of the most iconic Lions tries ever scored, exchanging passes with Jonathan Davies in the build-up to Sean O'Brien's famous score, though he was unable to prevent his side from slipping to a 30-15 defeat.
Further starts followed in the remainder of the series, helping the Lions roar back to win the second Test 24-21 without conceding a single try.
Meanwhile the third and decisive encounter with New Zealand saw Daly take centre stage with a confidently taken penalty from 55 metres out to pile the pressure on the All Blacks and kickstart a ferocious turnaround that saw the Lions claim a 15-15 draw in historic fashion.
Reflecting on the Tour, Daly said: "It's a unique experience where everyone has the same goal and everyone wants to learn from each other and get on well with each other so you play well when you're on the pitch together.
"It's been one of those experiences where, whether it's (Johnny) Sexton at 10 or Jonathan Davies at the centre, you can learn so much from other people and other countries.
"They have different points of view and you've got to take that in as much as possible and everyone has bonded over that really well."
In the 2021 Tour of South Africa, Daly was again a key contributor, making seven appearances, including a start in the first Test match against the Springboks and scoring one try against Sharks.
Back on Tour
Having established his credentials at both domestic and international level, a long-awaited Premiership title was attained in 2023 after moving to Saracens four years prior.
Success continued to follow with England, helping his country reach the 2019 World Cup final and starting four games as they won the 2020 Six Nations.
He was selected for the 2023 Rugby World Cup and the 2024 Six Nations and also featured in Steve Borthwick’s squad for the 2025 Six Nations.
Despite starting on the bench for England's second round fixture against France, Daly delivered a reminder of his qualities by coming on to score the decisive 78th-minute try that led to a 26-25 victory at the Allianz Stadium.
Months later, Daly was called up for what will be his third Tour with The Lions, joining skipper Maro Itoje and Ben Earl as the only Saracens players in the squad.
And Daly admits the news came as a complete surprise, having doubted his prospects of a third Tour.
He revealed: "It was amazing. I wasn't really expecting it.
"I was at home with my wife, dog and the little one. I'd just got back from training so I got there in time. It was pretty emotional.
"We didn't know which way it was going to go so there was genuine surprise and excitement and when you hear your name, you start listening for other guys that you know and I'm really happy to be part of it again.
"It's different every single time. A lot happens in four years and I'm just really grateful to go again. I want to give it my all and see how much I can help the team.
"You take every day as it comes. There's a game every four days or so so they come thick and fast and the best thing you can do is go into it with no expectations and try as much as possible to help the team win the series.
"That's the role of everyone so I'm looking forward to the whole journey.
"There's a lot of work going into it and there's a lot of getting to know people and making sure they're on the right page.
"We'll be ready to go when that first Test match comes."
