British and Irish Lions legend Sir Ian McGeechan lands surprising new job
Sir Ian McGeechan working as a pundit.
British and Irish Lions legend Sir Ian McGeechan has landed a surprise new role in rugby union after taking a position with Championship outfit Doncaster Knights.
The 77-year-old, who has been etched into Lions folklore for his impressive coaching achievements for the famous touring team, comes in as consultant director of rugby.
The Knights confirmed that McGeechan will assist and mentor head coach Joe Ford, brother of George, to help create a new era in Doncaster RFC’s 150th Anniversary year.
Lions legend
“Sir Ian excelled as a player, captaining Scotland on nine occasions before moving on to a highly successful coaching career,” read a statement from the Knights on Thursday.
“Scotland, the British & Irish Lions, Northampton Saints and London Wasps all benefitted from his knowledge and drive, during his illustrious rugby career for which he was recognised with an OBE in 1990 and a knighthood in 2010 for services to rugby.”
McGeechan was British and Irish Lions head coach on their 1989, 1991, 1995 and 2009 tours whilst the Scot was also part of the coaching team in 2005 under Warren Gatland.
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He also held coaching jobs with Scotland, Northampton Saints, Wasps and Bath, the last of which being at the Recreation Ground in a spell that ran from 2010 to 2012.
On the playing field the fly-half or centre turned out 32 times for Scotland and toured with the Lions on the 1974 and 1977 tours, turning out in eight matches for the side.
Doncaster president Steve Lloyd was understandably delighted to add McGeechan to his backroom team, with the Knights currently sitting second in the league standings.
Ideal mentor
“After a relationship spanning a number of years, during which we have both fought, with others, for the betterment of Championship rugby, together with our mutual passion for Yorkshire rugby, Ian, or Geech to all who know him, very willingly agreed to come and give us a hand creating the future at Castle Park,” he said.
“We continue to be focussed on development at Doncaster Knights, whether that be players, coaches or the club itself and I cannot think of a better mentor for head coach Joe Ford or a better fount of knowledge for the whole team and the club’s development generally.”
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