Ian McGeechan

Infobox Rugby biography | name = Ian McGeechan


birthname =
nickname = Geech, Mr Lions
dateofbirth = Birth date and age|df=yes|1946|10|30
placeofbirth = Leeds, Yorkshire, England
ru_currentteam = London Wasps
ru_currentposition = Director of Rugby
ru_position = fly-half|capital=yes, Outside centre|capital=yes
ru_nationalteam = Scotland British and Irish Lions
ru_nationalcaps = 32 8
ru_nationalpoints = (21) (0)
ru_ntupdate = 19 November 2007
ru_nationalyears = 1972-1979 1974 & '77
ru_clubyears = 1964-1979
ru_clubupdate = 19 November 2007
ru_proclubs = Headingley
ru_clubcaps =
ru_clubpoints =
ru_coachyears = 2005-present 1999-2003 1993-1999 1988-1993 1989, '93 & '97 2005 2009
ru_coachupdate = 19 November 2007
ru_coachclubs = London Wasps (director of rugby) Scotland Northampton Scotland British and Irish Lions British and Irish Lions (midweek side) British and Irish Lions
occupation = Director of Rugby - London Wasps
relatives =
school = Moor Grange County Secondary School
university = Carnegie Physical Training College

Ian Robert McGeechan (born on 30 October 1946) is a highly successful former rugby union footballer and coach. His nickname is "Geech".

Playing career

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

Coaching

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 and Irish Lions coach in 1989, 1993 and 1997. In 2005, he coached the midweek side on the British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand on the invitation of Sir Clive Woodward. He will again lead the Lions on their 2009 tour to South Africa. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/7390817.stm McGeechan given Lions coach role, BBC website 14 May 2008] ]

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 2005/2006 he led Wasps to the Powergen Anglo Welsh Cup title, beating Llanelli Scarlets in the final at Twickenham. In his second season, London Wasps claimed the Heineken Cup.

Teaching

Ian McGeechan taught sport and geography at Moor Grange County Secondary School in Leeds. He was also Head Boy in the 1960s. During the early 1970s he was a teacher at Fir Tree Middle School, Leeds, again specialising in geography and sport.

Critics

McGeechan has his critics, notably Jim Aitken who accuses him of ruining the club game in Scotland.Fact|date=May 2008 In 2002, he was appointed Director of Rugby at the SRU without the post being advertised. His biggest mistake in this post was, many feel,Who|date=May 2008 the appointment of Matt Williams as the national coach, though this decision was shared with Jim Telfer.

External links

* [http://www.wasps.co.uk/PlayerDisplay.ink?skip=7&season=07/08&squadno=6724&seasonl=2007/2008&Playertype=C Wasps profile]
* [http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/rugby.cfm?id=46772005 McGeechan should go too, says Aitken] - The Scotsman newspaper, January 14, 2005
* [http://sport.scotsman.com/rugby_sixnations.cfm?tid=197&id=324722005 Murrayfield exit beckons for McGeechan] - The Scotsman, March 27, 2005
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/4378317.stm McGeechan accepts Wasps position] - The BBC, 15 April, 2005

References