Ian McGeechan

Sir Ian McGeechan has excelled at every level of the modern rugby game. One of the best centres ever to put on a Scottish shirt, he won 32 caps for his country, and 8 for the Lions – he was a core element of Willie John McBride’s all-conquering 1974 Lions tour in South Africa. Turning his hand to coaching, he coached Headingley from 1980-83 and was involved in coaching Scotland U21s and Scotland Bs before taking over as head coach of his national team in 1985. He quickly adapted their playing style to their free-running strengths. Against all odds, they prized the Grand-Slam from England in 1990. Moving back to the club game Ian coached Northampton Saints from 1994-99 and Wasps from 2000-05 The true highlight of ‘Geech’s’ coaching career has to be the sensational 1997 Lions tour to South Africa, where a 2-1 victory was won against arguably the toughest team in the world on their home turf. He has been head coach on four separate occasions, most recently 2009 and coached the mid-week side in 2005. In 2010 he was knighted for services to Rugby.