Ian McGeechan

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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

Contents 1 Playing career 2 Coaching 3 Critics 4 External links

[edit] Playing career

He 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 Lions in both 1974 and 1977.

[edit] 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 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.

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 lead Wasps to the Powergen Anglo Welsh Cup title, beating Llanelli Scarlets in the final at Twickenham.

[edit] Critics

McGeechan has his critics, notably Jim Aitken who accuses him of ruining the club game in Scotland. 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, the appointment of Matt Williams as the national coach, though this decision was shared with Jim Telfer.

[edit] External links

• McGeechan should go too, says Aitken - The Scotsman newspaper, January 14, 2005
• Murrayfield exit beckons for McGeechan - The Scotsman, March 27, 2005
• McGeechan accepts Wasps position - The BBC, 15 April, 2005