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.

In 1994, McGeechan was appointed as Director of Rugby at Northampton and in 1999 replaced Jim Telfer as Scottish Director of Rugby.

McGeechan was appointed Director of Rugby at London Wasps in 2005 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.Geech to advise Gloucester Sky Sports, 11 February 2010Sir Ian McGeechan to work with Gloucester Rugby Gloucester Rugby, 11 February 2010 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 Matches (1988–1993)MatchesDateOppositionVenueScore(Sco.–Opponent)CompetitionCaptain19881 19 November Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh 13–32 Autumn internationals Gary Callander19892 21 January Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh 23–7 1989 Five Nations Championship Finlay Calder3 4 February Twickenham, London 12–124 4 March Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh 37–215 18 March Parc des Princes, Paris 3–196 28 October Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh 38–17 Fiji tour of Europe David Sole7 9 December 32–0 Autumn internationals19908 3 February Lansdowne Road, Dublin 13–10 1990 Five Nations Championship David Sole9 17 February Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh 21–010 3 March Arms Park, Cardiff 13–911 17 March Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh 13–712 16 June Carisbrook, Dunedin 16–31 New Zealand test series13 23 June Eden Park, Auckland 18–2114 10 November Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh 49–3 Argentina tour of Europe199115 19 January Parc des Princes, Paris 9–15 1991 Five Nations Championship David Sole16 2 February Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh 32–1217 16 February Twickenham, London 12–2118 16 March Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh 28–2519 31 August Dinamo Stadium, Bucharest 12–18 1991 RWC warm-up20 5 October Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh 47–9 1991 Rugby World Cup21 9 October 51–12 Peter Dods22 12 October 24–15 David Sole23 19 October 28–624 26 October 6–925 30 October Arms Park, Cardiff 6–13199226 18 January Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh 7–25 1992 Five Nations Championship David Sole27 15 February Lansdowne Road, Dublin 18–1028 7 March Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh 10–629 21 March Arms Park, Cardiff 12–15 30 13 June Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney 12–27 Australia test series31 21 June Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane 13–37 199332 16 January Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh 15–3 1993 Five Nations Championship Gavin Hastings33 6 February Parc des Princes, Paris 3–1134 20 February Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh 20–035 6 March Twickenham, London 12–26

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 Matches (2000–2003)MatchesDateOppositionVenueScore(Sco.–Opponent)CompetitionCaptainWorld Ranking20001 5 February Stadio Flaminio, Rome 20–34 2000 Six Nations Championship John Leslie n/a2 19 February Lansdowne Road, Dublin 22–44 Bryan Redpath n/a3 4 March Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh 16–28 John Leslie n/a4 18 March Millennium Stadium, Cardiff 18–26 n/a5 2 April Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh 19–13 Andy Nicol n/a6 24 June Carisbrook, Dunedin 20–69 New Zealand test series n/a7 1 July Eden Park, Auckland 14–48 n/a8 4 November Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh 53–6 Autumn internationals Budge Pountney n/a9 11 November 9–30 n/a10 18 November 31–8 n/a200111 4 February Stade de France, Saint-Denis 6–16 2001 Six Nations Championship Andy Nicol n/a12 17 February Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh 28–28 n/a13 3 March Twickenham, London 3–43 n/a14 17 March Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh 23–19 Budge Pountney n/a15 22 September 32–10 n/a16 10 November 43–20 Autumn internationals Tom Smith n/a17 18 November 16–25 n/a18 24 November 6–37 n/a200219 2 February Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh 3–29 2002 Six Nations Championship Budge Pountney n/a20 16 February Stadio Flaminio, Rome 29–12 Bryan Redpath n/a21 2 March Lansdowne Road, Dublin 22–43 n/a22 23 March Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh 10–22 n/a23 6 April Millennium Stadium, Cardiff 27–22 n/a24 15 June Thunderbird Stadium, Vancouver 23–26 North America tour Stuart Grimes n/a25 22 June Boxer Stadium, San Francisco 65–23 n/a26 9 November Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh 37–10 Autumn internationals Bryan Redpath n/a27 16 November 21–6 n/a28 24 November 36–22 n/a200329 16 February Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh 6–36 2003 Six Nations Championship Bryan Redpath n/a30 23 February Stade de France, Saint-Denis 3–38 n/a31 8 March Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh 30–22 n/a32 22 March Twickenham, London 9–40 n/a33 29 March Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh 33–25 n/a34 7 June Kings Park Stadium, Durban 25–29 South Africa test series n/a35 14 June Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg 19–28 n/a36 23 August Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh 47–15 2003 RWC warm-up Scott Murray n/a37 30 August Millennium Stadium, Cardiff 9–23 n/a38 6 September Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh 10–29 Gordon Bulloch n/a39 12 October Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville, Australia 32–11 2003 Rugby World Cup Bryan Redpath 10th40 20 October Lang Park, Brisbane, Australia 39–15 Gordon Bulloch 10th41 25 October Telstra Stadium, Sydney, Australia 9–51 Bryan Redpath 10th42 1 November 22–20 10th43 8 November Lang Park, Brisbane, Australia 16–33 9th

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.

References

Bibliography Bath, Richard (editor) The Complete Book of Rugby (Seven Oaks, 1997 ) McGeechan, Ian Lion Man: The Autobiography (Simon and Schuster, )

External links Sir Ian McGeechan official website