TEIFI rugby star Gareth Davies is set for his first appearance in the famous red jersey of the British and Irish Lions - in their opening match of the 2021 Castle Lager Lions Series in South Africa.

The Scarlets scrum-half, a former pupil at Ysgol Dyffryn Teifi in Llandysul, will start on the bench for the tourists when they take on the Emirates Lions in Johannesburg this Saturday (kick-off 5pm BST).

The 30 year-old Newcastle Emlyn man has been capped 62 times for Wales, played in two World Cups, and in all five games when Wales won the Grand Slam two years ago.

The experienced number nine, who has racked up over 200 appearances for the Scarlets, was previously called up as unused cover for the British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand in 2017.

He played a key role in Wayne Pivac's Six Nations Championship winning side earlier this year, and has earned his place as one of 10 Welshmen selected for the 2021 Lions tour.

His Scarlets teammate Wyn Jones, who came off the bench in the win over Japan last weekend, starts at loose-head prop.

Scotland full-back Stuart Hogg will lead a side showing 14 changes to the one that defeated Japan 28-10 in Edinburgh, with Josh Adams (Cardif Blues) the lone survivor.

“It’s good to have arrived in Johannesburg and get the tour under way,” said Lions head coach, Warren Gatland.

“We had a pleasing win last week up in Edinburgh, but there’s still plenty we need to get right on Saturday.

“I’ve been encouraged by the way the boys have trained this week. I feel it’s gone up a level from where we were in Jersey and we’re starting to see a better understanding of some of our tactics.

“There’s some new player combinations for us to have a look at this Saturday – which is good information for us as the Test Series approaches.

“My congratulations to all those playing their first game as a Lion, and also to Hoggy too – who I am sure will lead the side by example.”

British Lions Team to face Emirates Lions (Saturday 3 July 2021; Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg, Kick-off: 5pm (BST):

15. Stuart Hogg – captain (Exeter Chiefs, Scotland); 14. Louis Rees-Zammit (Gloucester Rugby, Wales), 13. Chris Harris (Gloucester Rugby, Scotland), 12. Owen Farrell (Saracens, England); 11. Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby, Wales); 10. Finn Russell (Racing 92, Scotland), 9. Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors, Scotland); 1. Wyn Jones (Scarlets, Wales), 2. Jamie George (Saracens, England), 3. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, England), 4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, England), 5. Jonny Hill (Exeter Chiefs, England), 6. Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, England), 7. Hamish Watson (Edinburgh Rugby, Scotland) , 8. Taulupe Faletau (Bath Rugby, Wales).

Replacements: 16. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, England) , 17. Mako Vunipola (Saracens, England), 18. Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors, Scotland), 19. Iain Henderson (Ulster Rugby, Ireland), 20. Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs, England), 21. Gareth Davies (Scarlets, Wales), 22. Bundee Aki (Connacht Rugby, Ireland), 23. Elliot Daly (Saracens, England).