Bookmakers have suspended the betting on Sam Warburton being named British & Irish Lions captain.

The Welsh back-rower lost the captaincy of his country earlier this year, but that seemed to do him some good as he enjoyed a very succesful Six Nations campaign.

His form has seen him emerge as a sure thing to be a starting member of Warren Gatland’s side ahead of the tour of New Zealand.

Warburton was captain of the Lions for their successful 2013 tour of Australia, which saw them claim a 2-1 win and now he looks set to be the first back-to-back skipper since Martin Johnson in 2001.

The Lions are facing a ten-match tour of New Zealand with the three Test matches being the main events. The tour will run from June 3 to July 8.

Warburton has refused to talk about being named captain and said: “I’d love to be in that [Lions] squad and I can’t look past further than that.

“There’s so much competition in the squad.

“I would love to go on tour and I’ve always respected the players who have gone on multiple Lions tours and that’s something I’d love and try and do.”

Suspended

BoyleSports have now announced they have been forced to suspend betting following a flurry of support Warburton.

He was available at 2/5 on Wednesday morning, but after a flurry of bets his price was cut into 1/5 before betting was suspended.

Liam Glynn, BoyleSports spokesperson, said “It now looks like that Sam Warburton will be announced as the Lions Captain for their 2017 Tour of New Zealand as we were bombarded with bets for the Welsh International on Wednesday.

“Our traders had no choice but to suspend the betting as it now looks like Warburton is past the post and some sources know the outcome before it has been officially announced.”