Ian McGeechan

Sir Ian Robert McGeechan, OBE (born 30 October 1946) is a Scottish rugby union coach and former player.

Born in Leeds, McGeechan represented Headingley as his only club during a 15-year club career. Qualifying for Scotland through his father, he played 32 times for Scotland over 7 years and won 8 caps on two tours for the British & Irish Lions. During his playing career he worked as a teacher.

After retiring from playing McGeechan began coaching. In a career spanning 26 years he coached the most recent Scottish side to win a Grand Slam in the 1990 Five Nations Championship, and won Premiership Rugby & the European Cup with London Wasps in 2008 and 2007. He was head coach on four tours for the British & Irish Lions from 1989 to 2009 and was an assistant to the 2005 tour.

Early life McGeechan was born in Leeds to a Glaswegian father who was in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. He attended West Park County Secondary School and Moor Grange County Secondary School and became head boy before training to be a PE teacher at Carnegie Physical Training College (now part of Leeds Metropolitan University). Although his family mostly played football, he took to rugby while in school.

Playing career McGeechan played for Headingley and made his debut for Scotland in 1972. He won thirty-two caps, playing at fly-half and centre. He captained Scotland on nine occasions. He toured with the British & Irish Lions in both 1974 and 1977.

Coaching career In 1986, McGeechan became the assistant Scotland coach to Derrick Grant and in 1988 he was promoted to coach. In 1990 his team won a Grand Slam victory in the Five Nations Championship. His forwards coach and partner was Jim Telfer.

McGeechan was the British & Irish Lions head coach in 1989, 1993, 1997 and 2009. In 2005, he coached the midweek side on the Lions' tour to New Zealand on the invitation of Sir Clive Woodward. after an unsuccessful and unhappy period as the Scottish Director of Rugby. In his first season of 2005/06 he led Wasps to the Anglo Welsh Cup title, beating Llanelli Scarlets in the final at Twickenham. In his second season, London Wasps claimed the Heineken Cup and in his third season, London Wasps won the Premiership

In February 2010, McGeechan joined the coaching staff at Gloucester as an advisor to Head Coach Bryan Redpath and his coaching team. but moved to local rivals Bath to take up the post of performance director in June 2010.

In 2011, McGeechan took over as the director of rugby at Bath following Steve Meehan's departure.

In July 2012, McGeechan was appointed the executive chairman of Leeds Carnegie.

In February 2024, McGeechan was brought in as the Director of Rugby at RFU Champ side, Doncaster Knights, and helps Darren Fearn with the squad.

Coaching statistics Scotland (1988-1993) International matches as head coach

Record by country Opponent Played Won Drew Lost Win ratio (%) For Against 49 3 38 96 62 100 38 17 46 51 135 84 47 9 40 65 44 18 28 6 100 43 51 12 TOTAL 640 504

Scotland (2000-2003) International matches as head coach Note: World Rankings Column shows the World Ranking Scotland was placed at on the following Monday after each of their matches

Record by country Opponent Played Won Drew Lost Win ratio (%) For Against 16 25 25 63 23 26 34 125 58 42 44 155 92 162 152 105 32 11 40 154 37 10 31 8 65 63 43 20 157 44 112 121 TOTAL 961 1134

Personal life In May 2025, McGeechan revealed he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Honours McGeechan was knighted in the 2010 New Year Honours for his services to rugby, having previously received an OBE in the 1990 Birthday Honours.

As a player

Five Nations Championship Winner: 1973 (Five-way tie as all teams finished equal on points) Runner-up: 1974, 1975 Calcutta Cup Winner: 1974, 1976

As head coach

(as Assistant coach) Rugby World Cup Quarter-finals: 1987 Five Nations Championship Winner: 1986 ( Shared with France ) Runner-up: 1987 ( equal 2nd with Ireland ) Calcutta Cup Winner: 1986

Rugby World Cup Fourth place : 1991 Quarter-finals : 2003 Five/Six Nations Championship Winner: 1990 Grand Slam: 1990 Runner-up: 1989, 1992, 1993 Third place: 1991, 2001 Triple Crown Winner: 1990 Calcutta Cup Winner: 1989, 1990, 2000 Centenary Quaich Winner: 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 2001

Northampton Saints Premiership Rugby Runner-up: 1999 RFU Championship Winner: 1996

London Wasps Premiership Rugby Winner: 2008 Anglo-Welsh Cup Winner: 2006 Heineken Cup Winner: 2007

Views In August 2014, McGeechan was one of 200 public figures who were signatories to a letter to The Guardian expressing their hope that Scotland would vote to remain part of the United Kingdom in September's independence referendum.