Four former British and Irish Lions have been called up to be part of S4C’s campaign to promote its coverage of the 2017 British and Irish Lions Tour.

Boasting 24 Lions test caps between them, Sir Gareth Edwards, Gerald Davies, Dwayne Peel and Stephen Jones will all feature in the channel’s multi-platform campaign, where they talk about their experiences in the famous red shirt and give their opinion of the class of 2017.

This year’s tour gets underway against the New Zealand Provincial Barbarians on Saturday, 3 June, with highlights on S4C at 8.30pm that evening. Their second game will follow just four days later on Tuesday, 7 June, as they take on Super Rugby side Auckland Blues at Eden Park, with highlights being shown at 10pm. Catrin Heledd will present the coverage, with Gareth Rhys Owen in the commentary box for both matches. Viewers can also watch the highlights with English subtitles.

So, what do our four former British and Irish Lions have to say?

Sir Gareth Edwards – three tours, 10 test caps

"I believe this is one of the strongest squads ever to leave Britain and Ireland. The All Blacks have been together for years and although the Lions have a very talented squad full of brilliant individuals, can Warren Gatland bring them together in time? That’s the big question.

"I’ll be keeping a close eye on Maro Itoje – it’ll be interesting to see if he’ll play in the back row or in the second row. There are quite a few strong carriers and Iain Henderson is one I’m looking forward to watching on the field. I’ll be looking forward to seeing how the entire back row plays too, because that will be key if the Lions are to be successful."

Gerald Davies – two tours, five test caps, three tries, former tour manager and Lions’ chairman

"The fact that Sam Warburton has been picked as captain is great for him, but also for Wales. It’s the second time he’s been made captain of course, so they obviously like his personality and he’s shown some form recently.

"I hope the Lions go to New Zealand and enjoy the country and its people. If you’re not happy or comfortable, you’re not going to win. The pressure will be on them. The players will be very nervous and the atmosphere on the field will be hostile in New Zealand, so they will need to be comfortable with themselves, as well as with each other."

Dwayne Peel – one tour, three test caps

"It’s a strong and exciting squad. It’ll be fascinating to see how the Lions play and how they cope with the speed of New Zealand’s game. You’ve also got the New Zealand provinces playing exceptionally well in Super Rugby at the moment, so playing in the right style is essential if the Lions are to win."

Stephen Jones – two tours, six Lions test caps, 53 points

"The All Blacks are good because they have fantastic skills, but they’re also very physical. They can play in many different ways and that causes problems for any defence. All credit to their coaches, they have also brought in a rugby culture that’s been successful for them.

"I think Sam Warburton could have a huge impact on the tour. He’s the captain, and he’s so physical and effective in the contact area. The way New Zealand play the game depends so much on the speed of the ball, so someone like Sam will have to slow them down so that the defence can reset and re-organise."

S4C will be showing more rugby in June as Wales Under 20s travel to Georgia to take part in the World Rugby Under 20s Championship. This week, Jason Strange’s side take on England on Sunday, 4 June and Samoa on Thursday, 8 June in their final group game.