Ian McGeechan

Template:Short description Template:EngvarB Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox rugby biography 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.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

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.<ref name="Lions">Template:Cite news</ref> In 2005, he coached the midweek side on the Lions' tour to New Zealand on the invitation of Sir Clive Woodward.<ref name="Lions" />

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<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 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.<ref>Geech to advise Gloucester Sky Sports, 11 February 2010</ref><ref>Sir Ian McGeechan to work with Gloucester Rugby Gloucester Rugby, 11 February 2010</ref> but moved to local rivals Bath to take up the post of performance director in June 2010.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2011, McGeechan took over as the director of rugby at Bath following Steve Meehan's departure.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In July 2012, McGeechan was appointed the executive chairman of Leeds Carnegie.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In February 2024, McGeechan was brought in as the Director of Rugby at RFU Championship side, Doncaster Knights, and helps Joe Ford with the squad.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Coaching statistics

Scotland (1988-1993)

International matches as head coach

Matches (1988–1993)
Matches	Date	Opposition	Venue	Score (Sco.–Opponent)	Competition	Captain
1988
1	19 November	Template:Nrut	Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh	13–32	Autumn internationals	Gary Callander
1989
2	21 January	Template:Nrut	Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh	23–7	1989 Five Nations Championship	Finlay Calder
3	4 February	Template:Nrut	Twickenham, London	12–12
4	4 March	Template:Nrut	Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh	37–21
5	18 March	Template:Nrut	Parc des Princes, Paris	3–19
6	28 October	Template:Nrut	Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh	38–17	Fiji tour of Europe	David Sole
7	9 December	Template:Nrut		32–0	Autumn internationals
1990
8	3 February	Template:Nrut	Lansdowne Road, Dublin	13–10	1990 Five Nations Championship	David Sole
9	17 February	Template:Nrut	Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh	21–0
10	3 March	Template:Nrut	Arms Park, Cardiff	13–9
11	17 March	Template:Nrut	Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh	13–7
12	16 June	Template:Nrut	Carisbrook, Dunedin	16–31	New Zealand test series
13	23 June		Eden Park, Auckland	18–21
14	10 November	Template:Nrut	Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh	49–3	Argentina tour of Europe
1991
15	19 January	Template:Nrut	Parc des Princes, Paris	9–15	1991 Five Nations Championship	David Sole
16	2 February	Template:Nrut	Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh	32–12
17	16 February	Template:Nrut	Twickenham, London	12–21
18	16 March	Template:Nrut	Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh	28–25
19	31 August	Template:Nrut	Dinamo Stadium, Bucharest	12–18	1991 RWC warm-up
20	5 October	Template:Nrut	Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh	47–9	1991 Rugby World Cup
21	9 October	Template:Nrut		51–12		Peter Dods
22	12 October	Template:Nrut		24–15		David Sole
23	19 October	Template:Nrut		28–6
24	26 October	Template:Nrut		6–9
25	30 October	Template:Nrut	Arms Park, Cardiff	6–13
1992
26	18 January	Template:Nrut	Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh	7–25	1992 Five Nations Championship	David Sole
27	15 February	Template:Nrut	Lansdowne Road, Dublin	18–10
28	7 March	Template:Nrut	Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh	10–6
29	21 March	Template:Nrut	Arms Park, Cardiff	12–15
30	13 June	Template:Nrut	Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney	12–27	Australia test series
31	21 June		Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane	13–37
1993
32	16 January	Template:Nrut	Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh	15–3	1993 Five Nations Championship	Gavin Hastings
33	6 February	Template:Nrut	Parc des Princes, Paris	3–11
34	20 February	Template:Nrut	Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh	20–0
35	6 March	Template:Nrut	Twickenham, London	12–26

Record by country

Opponent	Played	Won	Drew	Lost	Win ratio (%)	For	Against
Template:Ru	49	3
Template:Ru	38	96
Template:Ru	62	100
Template:Ru	38	17
Template:Ru	46	51
Template:Ru	135	84
Template:Ru	47	9
Template:Ru	40	65
Template:Ru	44	18
Template:Ru	28	6
Template:Ru	100	43
Template:Ru	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)
Matches	Date	Opposition	Venue	Score (Sco.–Opponent)	Competition	Captain	World Ranking
2000
1	5 February	Template:Nrut	Stadio Flaminio, Rome	20–34	2000 Six Nations Championship	John Leslie	n/a
2	19 February	Template:Nrut	Lansdowne Road, Dublin	22–44		Bryan Redpath	n/a
3	4 March	Template:Nrut	Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh	16–28		John Leslie	n/a
4	18 March	Template:Nrut	Millennium Stadium, Cardiff	18–26			n/a
5	2 April	Template:Nrut	Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh	19–13		Andy Nicol	n/a
6	24 June	Template:Nrut	Carisbrook, Dunedin	20–69	New Zealand test series		n/a
7	1 July		Eden Park, Auckland	14–48			n/a
8	4 November	Template:Nrut	Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh	53–6	Autumn internationals	Budge Pountney	n/a
9	11 November	Template:Nrut		9–30			n/a
10	18 November	Template:Nrut		31–8			n/a
2001
11	4 February	Template:Nrut	Stade de France, Saint-Denis	6–16	2001 Six Nations Championship	Andy Nicol	n/a
12	17 February	Template:Nrut	Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh	28–28			n/a
13	3 March	Template:Nrut	Twickenham, London	3–43			n/a
14	17 March	Template:Nrut	Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh	23–19		Budge Pountney	n/a
15	22 September	Template:Nrut		32–10			n/a
16	10 November	Template:Nrut		43–20	Autumn internationals	Tom Smith	n/a
17	18 November	Template:Nrut		16–25			n/a
18	24 November	Template:Nrut		6–37			n/a
2002
19	2 February	Template:Nrut	Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh	3–29	2002 Six Nations Championship	Budge Pountney	n/a
20	16 February	Template:Nrut	Stadio Flaminio, Rome	29–12		Bryan Redpath	n/a
21	2 March	Template:Nrut	Lansdowne Road, Dublin	22–43			n/a
22	23 March	Template:Nrut	Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh	10–22			n/a
23	6 April	Template:Nrut	Millennium Stadium, Cardiff	27–22			n/a
24	15 June	Template:Nrut	Thunderbird Stadium, Vancouver	23–26	North America tour	Stuart Grimes	n/a
25	22 June	Template:Nrut	Boxer Stadium, San Francisco	65–23			n/a
26	9 November	Template:Nrut	Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh	37–10	Autumn internationals	Bryan Redpath	n/a
27	16 November	Template:Nrut		21–6			n/a
28	24 November	Template:Nrut		36–22			n/a
2003
29	16 February	Template:Nrut	Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh	6–36	2003 Six Nations Championship	Bryan Redpath	n/a
30	23 February	Template:Nrut	Stade de France, Saint-Denis	3–38			n/a
31	8 March	Template:Nrut	Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh	30–22			n/a
32	22 March	Template:Nrut	Twickenham, London	9–40			n/a
33	29 March	Template:Nrut	Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh	33–25			n/a
34	7 June	Template:Nrut	Kings Park Stadium, Durban	25–29	South Africa test series		n/a
35	14 June		Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg	19–28			n/a
36	23 August	Template:Nrut	Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh	47–15	2003 RWC warm-up	Scott Murray	n/a
37	30 August	Template:Nrut	Millennium Stadium, Cardiff	9–23			n/a
38	6 September	Template:Nrut	Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh	10–29		Gordon Bulloch	n/a
39	12 October	Template:Nrut	Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville, Australia	32–11	2003 Rugby World Cup	Bryan Redpath	10th
40	20 October	Template:Nrut	Lang Park, Brisbane, Australia	39–15		Gordon Bulloch	10th
41	25 October	Template:Nrut	Telstra Stadium, Sydney, Australia	9–51		Bryan Redpath	10th
42	1 November	Template:Nrut		22–20			10th
43	8 November	Template:Nrut	Lang Park, Brisbane, Australia	16–33			9th

Record by country

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

Personal life

In May 2025, McGeechan revealed he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Honours

McGeechan was knighted in the 2010 New Year Honours for his services to rugby,<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref> having previously received an OBE in the 1990 Birthday Honours.<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>

As a player

• Template:Nrut
  • 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

• Template:Nrut (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

• Template:Nrut
  • 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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Bibliography

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

External links

• Sir Ian McGeechan official website
• Template:ESPNscrum
• Template:World Rugby Hall of Fame
• Template:Scottish Sports Hall of Fame