View source for Ian McGeechan

{{Short description|Scottish rugby union player (born 1946)}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2016}}
{{Infobox rugby biography | name = <small>[[Knight Bachelor|Sir]]</small><br />Ian McGeechan<br /><small>[[Order of the British Empire|OBE]]</small>
| image = Wasps HEC Final 2007 (cropped).JPG
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1946|10|30}}
| birth_place =  [[Headingley]], [[Leeds]], Yorkshire, England
| position = [[Fly-half (rugby union)|Fly-half]], [[Centre (rugby union)|Outside centre]]
| repyears1  = 1972–1979
| repteam1   = {{nrut|Scotland}}
| repcaps1   = 32
| reppoints1 = 21
| repyears2  = [[1974 British Lions tour to South Africa|1974]] & [[1977 British Lions tour to New Zealand|1977]]
| repteam2   = [[British & Irish Lions]]
| repcaps2   = 8
| reppoints2 = 3
| years1     = 1964–1979
| clubs1     = [[Leeds Tykes|Headingley]] 
| apps1      =
| points1    =
| coachyears1= 1986–1988
| coachteams1= {{nrut|Scotland}} ''(assistant)''
| coachyears2= 1988–1993
| coachteams2= {{nrut|Scotland}}
| coachyears3= [[1989 British Lions tour to Australia|1989]]– [[1997 British Lions tour to South Africa|1997]] & [[2009 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa|2009]]
| coachteams3= [[British & Irish Lions|Lions]]
| coachyears4= 1994–1999
| coachteams4= [[Northampton Saints]]
| coachyears5= 2000–2003
| coachteams5= {{nrut|Scotland}}
| coachyears6= [[2005 British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand|2005]]
| coachteams6= [[British & Irish Lions|Lions]] ''(midweek side)''
| coachyears7= 2005–2009
| coachteams7= [[Wasps RFC|London Wasps]]
| coachyears8= 2010–2012
| coachteams8= [[Bath Rugby|Bath]]
| occupation = Teacher <br> Director of rugby, Head coach
| relatives =
| school =
| university = [[Leeds Metropolitan University|Carnegie Physical Training College]]
|caption=McGeechan in 2007}}
'''Sir Ian Robert McGeechan''', [[Order of the British Empire|OBE]] (born 30 October 1946) is a Scottish [[rugby union]] coach and former player. 

Born in Leeds, McGeechan represented [[Leeds Tykes|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 (rugby union)|Grand Slam]] in the [[1990 Five Nations Championship]], and won [[Premiership Rugby]] & the European Cup with [[Wasps RFC|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 [[Glasgow|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 [[Association football|football]], he took to rugby while in school.<ref>{{cite book|last=Connor|first=Jeff|title=Giants of Scottish Rugby|year=2011|publisher=Random House|isbn=9781780572888}}</ref>

==Playing career==
McGeechan played for [[Leeds Tykes|Headingley]] and made his debut for [[Scotland national rugby union team|Scotland]] in 1972. He won thirty-two caps, playing at [[Fly-half (rugby union)|fly-half]] and [[Centre (rugby union)|centre]]. He captained Scotland on nine occasions. He toured with the [[British & Irish Lions]] in both [[1974 British Lions tour to South Africa|1974]] and [[1977 British Lions tour to New Zealand|1977]].

==Coaching career==
In 1986, McGeechan became the assistant [[Scotland national rugby union team|Scotland]] coach to [[Derrick Grant]] and in 1988 he was promoted to coach. In 1990 his team won a [[Grand Slam (rugby union)|Grand Slam]] victory in the [[Rugby Union Six Nations Championship|Five Nations Championship]]. His forwards coach and partner was [[Jim Telfer]].

McGeechan was the [[British & Irish Lions]] head coach in [[1989 British Lions tour to Australia|1989]], [[1993 British Lions tour to New Zealand|1993]], [[1997 British Lions tour to South Africa|1997]] and [[2009 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa|2009]].<ref name="Lions">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/7390817.stm |title=McGeechan given Lions coach role |publisher=BBC Sport |date=14 May 2008 |access-date=18 June 2013}}</ref> In 2005, he coached the midweek side on the [[2005 British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand|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 Saints|Northampton]] and in 1999 replaced [[Jim Telfer]] as [[Scottish Rugby Union|Scottish]] Director of Rugby.

McGeechan was appointed Director of Rugby at [[Wasps RFC|London Wasps]] in 2005<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/4378317.stm|title=McGeechan accepts Wasps position|date=15 April 2005|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=7 January 2010}}</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 [[EDF Energy Cup#Anglo-Welsh Cup|Anglo Welsh Cup]] title, beating [[Scarlets|Llanelli Scarlets]] in the final at [[Twickenham Stadium|Twickenham]]. In his second season, London Wasps claimed the [[Heineken Cup]] and in his third season, London Wasps won the [[English Premiership (rugby union)|Premiership]]

In February 2010, McGeechan joined the coaching staff at [[Gloucester Rugby|Gloucester]] as an advisor to Head Coach [[Bryan Redpath]] and his coaching team.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121018002154/http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12549_5938593,00.html Geech to advise Gloucester] Sky Sports, 11 February 2010</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120309164104/http://www.gloucesterrugby.co.uk/news/5817.php Sir Ian McGeechan to work with Gloucester Rugby] Gloucester Rugby, 11 February 2010</ref> but moved to local rivals [[Bath Rugby|Bath]] to take up the post of performance director in June 2010.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sir Ian McGeechan joins Bath as performance director|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/my_club/bath/8775566.stm|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=30 June 2010|date=30 June 2010}}</ref>

In 2011, McGeechan took over as the director of rugby at Bath following Steve Meehan's departure.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tv5.espn.com/rugby/story/_/id/15300812/steve-meehan-part-company-bath|title=Meehan to part company with Bath|date=29 March 2011}}</ref>

In July 2012, McGeechan was appointed the executive chairman of Leeds Carnegie.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/18952741|title=Leeds Carnegie appoint Sir Ian McGeechan as chairman|access-date=23 July 2012}}</ref>

In February 2024, McGeechan was brought in as the Director of Rugby at [[RFU Championship]] side, [[Doncaster Knights]], and helps [[Joe Ford (rugby union)|Joe Ford]] with the squad.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sir Ian McGeechan |url=https://www.drfc.co.uk/staff/sir-ian-mcgeechan/ |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=Doncaster Knights |language=en-GB}}</ref>

== Coaching statistics ==
=== Scotland (1988-1993) ===
==== International matches as head coach ====
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" style="width:100%"
!colspan=7|Matches (1988–1993)
|-
!Matches
!Date
!Opposition
!Venue
!Score<br /><small>(Sco.–Opponent)</small>
!Competition
!Captain
|-
! colspan=7|1988
|-
| align=center|'''1''' || 19 November || {{nrut|Australia}} || [[Murrayfield Stadium]], [[Edinburgh]] || align=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|13–32 || [[Autumn]] internationals || [[Gary Callander]]
|-
! colspan=7|1989
|-
| align=center|'''2''' || 21 January || {{nrut|Wales}} || [[Murrayfield Stadium]], [[Edinburgh]] || align=center bgcolor=CCFFCC|23–7 || rowspan=4|[[1989 Five Nations Championship]] || rowspan=4|[[Finlay Calder]]
|-
| align=center|'''3''' || 4 February || {{nrut|England}} || [[Twickenham]], [[London]] || align=center bgcolor=FFFFCC|12–12
|-
| align=center|'''4''' || 4 March || {{nrut|Ireland}} || [[Murrayfield Stadium]], [[Edinburgh]] || align=center bgcolor=CCFFCC|37–21
|-
| align=center|'''5''' || 18 March || {{nrut|France}} || [[Parc des Princes]], [[Paris]] || align=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|3–19
|-
| align=center|'''6''' || 28 October || {{nrut|Fiji}} || rowspan=2|[[Murrayfield Stadium]], [[Edinburgh]] || align=center bgcolor=CCFFCC|38–17 || [[1989 Fiji rugby union tour of Europe|Fiji tour of Europe]] || rowspan=2|[[David Sole]]
|-
| align=center|'''7''' || 9 December || {{nrut|Romania}} || align=center bgcolor=CCFFCC|32–0 || [[Autumn]] internationals
|-
! colspan=7|1990
|-
| align=center|'''8''' || 3 February || {{nrut|Ireland}} || [[Lansdowne Road]], [[Dublin]] || align=center bgcolor=CCFFCC|13–10 || rowspan=4|[[1990 Five Nations Championship]] || rowspan=7|[[David Sole]]
|-
| align=center|'''9''' || 17 February || {{nrut|France}} || [[Murrayfield Stadium]], [[Edinburgh]] || align=center bgcolor=CCFFCC|21–0
|-
| align=center|'''10''' || 3 March || {{nrut|Wales}} || [[Arms Park]], [[Cardiff]] || align=center bgcolor=CCFFCC|13–9
|-
| align=center|'''11''' || 17 March || {{nrut|England}} || [[Murrayfield Stadium]], [[Edinburgh]] || align=center bgcolor=CCFFCC|13–7
|-
| align=center|'''12''' || 16 June || rowspan=2|{{nrut|New Zealand}} || [[Carisbrook]], [[Dunedin]] || align=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|16–31 || rowspan=2|[[1990 Scotland rugby union tour of New Zealand|New Zealand test series]]
|-
| align=center|'''13''' || 23 June || [[Eden Park]], [[Auckland]] || align=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|18–21
|-
| align=center|'''14''' || 10 November || {{nrut|Argentina}} || [[Murrayfield Stadium]], [[Edinburgh]] || align=center bgcolor=CCFFCC|49–3 || [[1990 Argentina rugby union tour of British Isles|Argentina tour of Europe]]
|-
! colspan=7|1991
|-
| align=center|'''15''' || 19 January || {{nrut|France}} || [[Parc des Princes]], [[Paris]] || align=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|9–15 || rowspan=4|[[1991 Five Nations Championship]] || rowspan=6|[[David Sole]]
|-
| align=center|'''16''' || 2 February || {{nrut|Wales}} || [[Murrayfield Stadium]], [[Edinburgh]] || align=center bgcolor=CCFFCC|32–12
|-
| align=center|'''17''' || 16 February || {{nrut|England}} || [[Twickenham]], [[London]] || align=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|12–21
|-
| align=center|'''18''' || 16 March || {{nrut|Ireland}} || [[Murrayfield Stadium]], [[Edinburgh]] || align=center bgcolor=CCFFCC|28–25
|-
| align=center|'''19''' || 31 August || {{nrut|Romania}} || [[Dinamo Stadium (Bucharest)|Dinamo Stadium]], [[Bucharest]] || align=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|12–18 || [[1991 Rugby World Cup warm-up matches|1991 RWC warm-up]]
|-
| align=center|'''20''' || 5 October || {{nrut|Japan}} || rowspan=5|[[Murrayfield Stadium]], [[Edinburgh]] || align=center bgcolor=CCFFCC|47–9 || rowspan=6|[[1991 Rugby World Cup]]
|-
| align=center|'''21''' || 9 October || {{nrut|Zimbabwe}} || align=center bgcolor=CCFFCC|51–12 || [[Peter Dods]]
|-
| align=center|'''22''' || 12 October || {{nrut|Ireland}} || align=center bgcolor=CCFFCC|24–15 || rowspan=4|[[David Sole]]
|-
| align=center|'''23''' || 19 October || {{nrut|Samoa}} || align=center bgcolor=CCFFCC|28–6
|-
| align=center|'''24''' || 26 October || {{nrut|England}} || align=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|6–9
|-
| align=center|'''25''' || 30 October || {{nrut|New Zealand}} || [[Arms Park]], [[Cardiff]] || align=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|6–13
|-
! colspan=7|1992
|-
| align=center|'''26''' || 18 January || {{nrut|England}} || [[Murrayfield Stadium]], [[Edinburgh]] || align=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|7–25 || rowspan=4|[[1992 Five Nations Championship]] || rowspan=6|[[David Sole]]
|-
| align=center|'''27''' || 15 February || {{nrut|Ireland}} || [[Lansdowne Road]], [[Dublin]] || align=center bgcolor=CCFFCC|18–10
|-
| align=center|'''28''' || 7 March || {{nrut|France}} || [[Murrayfield Stadium]], [[Edinburgh]] || align=center bgcolor=CCFFCC|10–6
|-
| align=center|'''29''' || 21 March || {{nrut|Wales}} || [[Arms Park]], [[Cardiff]] || align=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|12–15 
|-
| align=center|'''30''' || 13 June || rowspan=2|{{nrut|Australia}} || [[Sydney Football Stadium (1988)|Sydney Football Stadium]], [[Sydney]] || align=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|12–27 || rowspan=2|[[1992 Scotland rugby union tour of Australia|Australia test series]]
|-
| align=center|'''31''' || 21 June || [[Ballymore Stadium]], [[Brisbane]] || align=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|13–37 
|-
! colspan=7|1993
|-
| align=center|'''32''' || 16 January || {{nrut|Ireland}} || [[Murrayfield Stadium]], [[Edinburgh]] || align=center bgcolor=CCFFCC|15–3 || rowspan=4|[[1993 Five Nations Championship]] || rowspan=4|[[Gavin Hastings]]
|-
| align=center|'''33''' || 6 February || {{nrut|France}} || [[Parc des Princes]], [[Paris]] || align=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|3–11
|-
| align=center|'''34''' || 20 February || {{nrut|Wales}} || [[Murrayfield Stadium]], [[Edinburgh]] || align=center bgcolor=CCFFCC|20–0
|-
| align=center|'''35''' || 6 March || {{nrut|England}} || [[Twickenham]], [[London]] || align=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|12–26
|}

==== Record by country ====
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Opponent
! Played
! Won
! Drew
! Lost
! Win ratio (%)
! For
! Against
|- align=center
| align=left|{{ru|ARG}}
{{WDL|decimals=0|1|1|0|0}}
| 49
| 3
|- align=center
| align=left|{{ru|AUS}}
{{WDL|decimals=0|3|0|0|3}}
| 38
| 96
|- align=center
| align=left|{{ru|ENG}}
{{WDL|decimals=0|6|1|1|4}}
| 62
| 100
|- align=center
| align=left|{{ru|FIJ}}
{{WDL|decimals=0|1|1|0|0}}
| 38
| 17
|- align=center
| align=left|{{ru|FRA}}
{{WDL|decimals=0|5|2|0|3}}
| 46
| 51
|- align=center
| align=left|{{ru|IRE}}
{{WDL|decimals=0|6|6|0|0}}
| 135
| 84
|- align=center
| align=left|{{ru|JPN}}
{{WDL|decimals=0|1|1|0|0}}
| 47
| 9
|- align=center
| align=left|{{ru|NZL}}
{{WDL|decimals=0|3|0|0|3}}
| 40
| 65
|- align=center
| align=left|{{ru|ROU}}
{{WDL|decimals=0|2|1|0|1}}
| 44
| 18
|- align=center
| align=left|{{ru|SAM}}
{{WDL|decimals=0|1|1|0|0}}
| 28
| 6
|- align=center
| align=left|{{ru|WAL}}
{{WDL|decimals=0|5|4|0|1}}
| 100
| 43
|- align=center
| align=left|{{ru|ZIM}}
{{WDL|decimals=0|1|1|0|0}}
| 51
| 12
|-
! TOTAL
{{WDLtot|decimals=0|35|19|1|15}}
! 640
! 504
|}

=== Scotland (2000-2003) ===
==== International matches as head coach ====
<small>'''Note:''' World Rankings Column shows the World Ranking Scotland was placed at on the following Monday after each of their matches</small>
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" style="width:100%"
!colspan=8|Matches (2000–2003)
|-
!Matches
!Date
!Opposition
!Venue
!Score<br /><small>(Sco.–Opponent)</small>
!Competition
!Captain
![[World Rugby Rankings|World Ranking]]
|-
! colspan=8|2000
|-
| align=center|'''1''' || 5 February || {{nrut|Italy}} || [[Stadio Flaminio]], [[Rome]] || align=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|20–34 || rowspan=5|[[2000 Six Nations Championship]] || [[John Leslie (rugby union)|John Leslie]] || align=center|n/a
|- 
| align=center|'''2''' || 19 February || {{nrut|Ireland}} || [[Lansdowne Road]], [[Dublin]] || align=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|22–44 || [[Bryan Redpath]] || align=center|n/a
|-
| align=center|'''3''' || 4 March || {{nrut|France}} || [[Murrayfield Stadium]], [[Edinburgh]] || align=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|16–28 || rowspan=2|[[John Leslie (rugby union)|John Leslie]] || align=center|n/a
|-
| align=center|'''4''' || 18 March || {{nrut|Wales}} || [[Millennium Stadium]], [[Cardiff]] || align=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|18–26 || align=center|n/a
|-
| align=center|'''5''' || 2 April || {{nrut|England}} || [[Murrayfield Stadium]], [[Edinburgh]] || align=center bgcolor=CCFFCC|19–13 || rowspan=3|[[Andy Nicol]] || align=center|n/a
|-
| align=center|'''6''' || 24 June || rowspan=2|{{nrut|New Zealand}} || [[Carisbrook]], [[Dunedin]] || align=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|20–69 || rowspan=2|[[2000 Scotland rugby union tour of New Zealand|New Zealand test series]] || align=center|n/a
|-
| align=center|'''7''' || 1 July || [[Eden Park]], [[Auckland]] || align=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|14–48 || align=center|n/a
|-
| align=center|'''8''' || 4 November || {{nrut|United States}} || rowspan=3|[[Murrayfield Stadium]], [[Edinburgh]] || align=center bgcolor=CCFFCC|53–6 || rowspan=3|[[2000 end-of-year rugby union internationals|Autumn internationals]] || rowspan=3|[[Budge Pountney]] || align=center|n/a
|-
| align=center|'''9''' || 11 November || {{nrut|Australia}} || align=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|9–30 || align=center|n/a
|-
| align=center|'''10''' || 18 November || {{nrut|Samoa}} || align=center bgcolor=CCFFCC|31–8 || align=center|n/a
|-
! colspan=8|2001
|-
| align=center|'''11''' || 4 February || {{nrut|France}} || [[Stade de France]], [[Saint-Denis, Seine-Saint-Denis|Saint-Denis]] || align=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|6–16 || rowspan=5|[[2001 Six Nations Championship]] || rowspan=3|[[Andy Nicol]] || align=center|n/a
|-
| align=center|'''12''' || 17 February || {{nrut|Wales}} || [[Murrayfield Stadium]], [[Edinburgh]] || align=center bgcolor=FFFFCC|28–28 || align=center|n/a
|-
| align=center|'''13''' || 3 March || {{nrut|England}} || [[Twickenham]], [[London]] || align=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|3–43 || align=center|n/a
|-
| align=center|'''14''' || 17 March || {{nrut|Italy}} || rowspan=5|[[Murrayfield Stadium]], [[Edinburgh]] || align=center bgcolor=CCFFCC|23–19 || rowspan=2|[[Budge Pountney]] || align=center|n/a
|-
| align=center|'''15''' || 22 September || {{nrut|Ireland}} || align=center bgcolor=CCFFCC|32–10 || align=center|n/a
|-
| align=center|'''16''' || 10 November || {{nrut|Tonga}} || align=center bgcolor=CCFFCC|43–20 || rowspan=3|[[2001 end-of-year rugby union internationals|Autumn internationals]] || rowspan=3|[[Tom Smith (rugby union, born 1971)|Tom Smith]] || align=center|n/a
|-
| align=center|'''17''' || 18 November || {{nrut|Argentina}} || align=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|16–25 || align=center|n/a
|-
| align=center|'''18''' || 24 November || {{nrut|New Zealand}} || align=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|6–37 || align=center|n/a
|-
! colspan=8|2002
|-
| align=center|'''19''' || 2 February || {{nrut|England}} || [[Murrayfield Stadium]], [[Edinburgh]] || align=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|3–29 || rowspan=5|[[2002 Six Nations Championship]] || [[Budge Pountney]] || align=center|n/a
|-
| align=center|'''20''' || 16 February || {{nrut|Italy}} || [[Stadio Flaminio]], [[Rome]] || align=center bgcolor=CCFFCC|29–12 || rowspan=4|[[Bryan Redpath]] || align=center|n/a
|-
| align=center|'''21''' || 2 March || {{nrut|Ireland}} || [[Lansdowne Road]], [[Dublin]] || align=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|22–43 || align=center|n/a
|-
| align=center|'''22''' || 23 March || {{nrut|France}} || [[Murrayfield Stadium]], [[Edinburgh]] || align=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|10–22 || align=center|n/a
|-
| align=center|'''23''' || 6 April || {{nrut|Wales}} || [[Millennium Stadium]], [[Cardiff]] || align=center bgcolor=CCFFCC|27–22 || align=center|n/a
|-
| align=center|'''24''' || 15 June || {{nrut|Canada}} || [[Thunderbird Stadium]], [[Vancouver]] || align=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|23–26 || rowspan=2|[[2002 Scotland rugby union tour of North America|North America tour]] || rowspan=2|[[Stuart Grimes]] || align=center|n/a
|-
| align=center|'''25''' || 22 June || {{nrut|United States}} || [[Boxer Stadium]], [[San Francisco]] || align=center bgcolor=CCFFCC|65–23 || align=center|n/a
|-
| align=center|'''26''' || 9 November || {{nrut|Romania}} || rowspan=3|[[Murrayfield Stadium]], [[Edinburgh]] || align=center bgcolor=CCFFCC|37–10 || rowspan=3|[[2002 end-of-year rugby union internationals|Autumn internationals]] || rowspan=3|[[Bryan Redpath]] || align=center|n/a
|-
| align=center|'''27''' || 16 November || {{nrut|South Africa}} || align=center bgcolor=CCFFCC|21–6 || align=center|n/a
|-
| align=center|'''28''' || 24 November || {{nrut|Fiji}} || align=center bgcolor=CCFFCC|36–22 || align=center|n/a
|-
! colspan=8|2003
|-
| align=center|'''29''' || 16 February || {{nrut|Ireland}} || [[Murrayfield Stadium]], [[Edinburgh]] || align=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|6–36 || rowspan=5|[[2003 Six Nations Championship]] || rowspan=7|[[Bryan Redpath]] || align=center|n/a
|-
| align=center|'''30''' || 23 February || {{nrut|France}} || [[Stade de France]], [[Saint-Denis, Seine-Saint-Denis|Saint-Denis]] || align=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|3–38 || align=center|n/a
|-
| align=center|'''31''' || 8 March || {{nrut|Wales}} || [[Murrayfield Stadium]], [[Edinburgh]] || align=center bgcolor=CCFFCC|30–22 || align=center|n/a
|-
| align=center|'''32''' || 22 March || {{nrut|England}} || [[Twickenham]], [[London]] || align=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|9–40 || align=center|n/a
|-
| align=center|'''33''' || 29 March || {{nrut|Italy}} || [[Murrayfield Stadium]], [[Edinburgh]] || align=center bgcolor=CCFFCC|33–25 || align=center|n/a
|-
| align=center|'''34''' || 7 June || rowspan=2|{{nrut|South Africa}} || [[Kings Park Stadium]], [[Durban]] || align=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|25–29 || rowspan=2|[[2003 Scotland rugby union tour of South Africa|South Africa test series]] || align=center|n/a
|-
| align=center|'''35''' || 14 June || [[Ellis Park Stadium]], [[Johannesburg]] || align=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|19–28 || align=center|n/a
|-
| align=center|'''36''' || 23 August || {{nrut|Italy}} || [[Murrayfield Stadium]], [[Edinburgh]] || align=center bgcolor=CCFFCC|47–15 || rowspan=3|[[2003 Rugby World Cup warm-up matches|2003 RWC warm-up]] || rowspan=2|[[Scott Murray (rugby union)|Scott Murray]] || align=center|n/a
|-
| align=center|'''37''' || 30 August || {{nrut|Wales}} || [[Millennium Stadium]], [[Cardiff]] || align=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|9–23 || align=center|n/a
|-
| align=center|'''38''' || 6 September || {{nrut|Ireland}} || [[Murrayfield Stadium]], [[Edinburgh]] || align=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|10–29 || [[Gordon Bulloch]] || align=center|n/a
|-
| align=center|'''39''' || 12 October || {{nrut|Japan}} || [[Dairy Farmers Stadium]], [[Townsville]], [[Australia]] || align=center bgcolor=CCFFCC|32–11 || rowspan=5|[[2003 Rugby World Cup]] || [[Bryan Redpath]] || align=center|10th
|-
| align=center|'''40''' || 20 October || {{nrut|United States}} || [[Lang Park]], [[Brisbane]], [[Australia]] || align=center bgcolor=CCFFCC|39–15 || [[Gordon Bulloch]] || align=center|10th
|-
| align=center|'''41''' || 25 October || {{nrut|France}} || rowspan=2|[[Telstra Stadium]], [[Sydney]], [[Australia]] || align=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|9–51 || rowspan=3|[[Bryan Redpath]] || align=center|10th
|-
| align=center|'''42''' || 1 November || {{nrut|Fiji}} || align=center bgcolor=CCFFCC|22–20 || align=center|10th
|-
| align=center|'''43''' || 8 November || {{nrut|Australia}} || [[Lang Park]], [[Brisbane]], [[Australia]] || align=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|16–33 || align=center|9th
|}

==== Record by country ====
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Opponent
! Played
! Won
! Drew
! Lost
! Win ratio (%)
! For
! Against
|- align=center
| align=left|{{ru|ARG}}
{{WDL|decimals=0|1|0|0|1}}
| 16
| 25
|- align=center
| align=left|{{ru|AUS}}
{{WDL|decimals=0|2|0|0|2}}
| 25
| 63
|- align=center
| align=left|{{ru|CAN}}
{{WDL|decimals=0|1|0|0|1}}
| 23
| 26
|- align=center
| align=left|{{ru|ENG}}
{{WDL|decimals=0|4|1|0|3}}
| 34
| 125
|- align=center
| align=left|{{ru|FIJ}}
{{WDL|decimals=0|2|2|0|0}}
| 58
| 42
|- align=center
| align=left|{{ru|FRA}}
{{WDL|decimals=0|5|0|0|5}}
| 44
| 155
|- align=center
| align=left|{{ru|IRE}}
{{WDL|decimals=0|5|1|0|4}}
| 92
| 162
|- align=center
| align=left|{{ru|ITA}}
{{WDL|decimals=0|5|4|0|1}}
| 152
| 105
|- align=center
| align=left|{{ru|JPN}}
{{WDL|decimals=0|1|1|0|0}}
| 32
| 11
|- align=center
| align=left|{{ru|NZL}}
{{WDL|decimals=0|3|0|0|3}}
| 40
| 154
|- align=center
| align=left|{{ru|ROM}}
{{WDL|decimals=0|1|1|0|0}}
| 37
| 10
|- align=center
| align=left|{{ru|SAM}}
{{WDL|decimals=0|1|1|0|0}}
| 31
| 8
|- align=center
| align=left|{{ru|RSA}}
{{WDL|decimals=0|3|1|0|2}}
| 65
| 63
|- align=center
| align=left|{{ru|TGA}}
{{WDL|decimals=0|1|1|0|0}}
| 43
| 20
|- align=center
| align=left|{{ru|USA}}
{{WDL|decimals=0|3|3|0|0}}
| 157
| 44
|- align=center
| align=left|{{ru|WAL}}
{{WDL|decimals=0|5|2|1|2}}
| 112
| 121
|-
! TOTAL
{{WDLtot|decimals=0|43|18|1|24}}
! 961
! 1134
|}

==Personal life==
In May 2025, McGeechan revealed he had been diagnosed with [[prostate cancer]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Lions great McGeechan diagnosed with prostate cancer |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/c2lknq4d21ko |website=[[BBC Sport]] |access-date=18 May 2025 |date=11 May 2025}}</ref>

==Honours==
McGeechan was [[Knight Bachelor|knighted]] in the [[2010 New Year Honours]] for his services to rugby,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=59282|date=31 December 2009|page=1|supp=y}}</ref> having previously received an [[OBE]] in the [[1990 Birthday Honours]].<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=52173 |date=15 June 1990 |pages=11  }}</ref>

=== As a player ===
* '''{{nrut|Scotland}}'''
** '''[[Five Nations Championship]]'''
*** Winner: [[1973 Five Nations Championship|1973]] (Five-way tie as all teams finished equal on points)
*** [[Runner-up]]: [[1974 Five Nations Championship|1974]], [[1975 Five Nations Championship|1975]]
** '''[[Calcutta Cup]]'''
*** Winner: [[1974 Five Nations Championship|1974]], [[1976 Five Nations Championship|1976]]

=== As head coach ===
{{col-float}}
* '''{{nrut|Scotland}}''' '''''(as Assistant coach)'''''
** '''[[Rugby World Cup]]'''
*** Quarter-finals: [[1987 Rugby World Cup|1987]]
** '''[[Five Nations Championship]]'''
*** Winner: [[1986 Five Nations Championship|1986]] ( Shared with France )
*** Runner-up: [[1987 Five Nations Championship|1987]] ( equal 2nd with Ireland )
** '''[[Calcutta Cup]]'''
*** Winner: [[1986 Five Nations Championship|1986]]

{{col-float-break}}
* '''{{nrut|Scotland}}'''
** '''[[Rugby World Cup]]'''
*** Fourth place : [[1991 Rugby World Cup|1991]]
*** Quarter-finals : [[2003 Rugby World Cup|2003]]
** '''[[Six Nations Championship|Five/Six Nations Championship]]'''
*** Winner: [[1990 Five Nations Championship|1990]]
*** [[Grand Slam (rugby union)|Grand Slam]]: [[1990 Five Nations Championship|1990]]
*** Runner-up: [[1989 Five Nations Championship|1989]], [[1992 Five Nations Championship|1992]], [[1993 Five Nations Championship|1993]]
*** Third place: [[1991 Five Nations Championship|1991]], [[2001 Six Nations Championship|2001]]
** '''[[Triple Crown (rugby union)|Triple Crown]]'''
*** Winner: [[1990 Five Nations Championship|1990]]
** '''[[Calcutta Cup]]'''
*** Winner: [[1989 Five Nations Championship|1989]], [[1990 Five Nations Championship|1990]], [[2000 Six Nations Championship|2000]]
** '''[[Centenary Quaich]]'''
*** Winner: [[1989 Five Nations Championship|1989]], [[1990 Five Nations Championship|1990]], [[1991 Five Nations Championship|1991]], [[1992 Five Nations Championship|1992]], [[1993 Five Nations Championship|1993]], [[2001 Six Nations Championship|2001]]

{{col-float-break}}
* '''[[Northampton Saints]]'''
** '''[[Premiership Rugby]]'''
*** Runner-up: [[1998–99 Premiership Rugby|1999]]
** '''[[RFU Championship]]'''
*** Winner: [[1995–96 Courage League National Division Two|1996]]

{{col-float-break}}
* '''[[London Wasps]]'''
** '''[[Premiership Rugby]]'''
*** Winner: [[2007–08 Premiership Rugby|2008]]
** '''[[Anglo-Welsh Cup]]'''
*** Winner: [[2005–06 Powergen Cup|2006]]
** '''[[Heineken Cup]]'''
*** Winner: [[2007 Heineken Cup Final|2007]]
{{col-float-end}}

==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 [[2014 Scottish independence referendum|independence referendum]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/aug/07/celebrities-open-letter-scotland-independence-full-text |title=Celebrities' open letter to Scotland – full text and list of signatories |work=The Guardian |date=7 August 2014 |access-date=26 August 2014}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==Bibliography==
* Bath, Richard (editor) ''The Complete Book of Rugby'' (Seven Oaks, 1997 {{ISBN|1-86200-013-1}})
* McGeechan, Ian ''Lion Man: The Autobiography'' (Simon and Schuster, {{ISBN|1-84737-602-9}})

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100123175331/http://www.sirianmcgeechan.com/ Sir Ian McGeechan official website]
* {{ESPNscrum|7994}}
* {{World Rugby Hall of Fame|704808}}
* {{Scottish Sports Hall of Fame|sir-ian-mcgeechan-obe}}

{{S-start}}
{{succession box | title=[[Scotland national rugby union team]] coach |years=1988–1993<br />1999–2003 | before=[[Derrick Grant]]<br />[[Jim Telfer]]  | after=[[Jim Telfer]]<br />[[Matt Williams (rugby union coach)|Matt Williams]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{British and Irish Lions 1974}}
{{British and Irish Lions 1977}}
{{British and Irish Lions 1989}}
{{British and Irish Lions 1989 France}}
{{Four Home Unions 1990}}
{{British and Irish Lions 1993}}
{{British and Irish Lions 1997}}
{{British and Irish Lions 2009}}
{{Scotland 1991 Rugby World Cup squad}}
{{Scotland 2003 Rugby World Cup squad}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:McGeechan, Ian}}
[[Category:1946 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:British & Irish Lions coaches]]
[[Category:British & Irish Lions rugby union players from Scotland]]
[[Category:World Rugby Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Leeds Tykes players]]
[[Category:Knights Bachelor]]
[[Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:People from Headingley]]
[[Category:Rugby football people awarded knighthoods]]
[[Category:Scotland international rugby union players]]
[[Category:Scotland national rugby union team coaches]]
[[Category:Scottish rugby union coaches]]
[[Category:Scottish rugby union players]]
[[Category:Rugby union players from Leeds]]
[[Category:Yorkshire County RFU players]]
[[Category:Rugby union fly-halves]]