Ian McGeechan, himself capped eight times by the Lions as a player, is probably best remembered for masterminding the brilliant 2-1 series win in 1997 in South Africa over the Springboks, the then World Champions.

He was previously in charge of the British and Irish Lions when they beat the Wallabies 2-1 in 1989 and steered Scotland to their Five Nations Grand Slam success in 1990.

Ian McGeechan is quite rightly regarded as one of rugby union's most tactically astute and inspirational coaches, recently masterminding London Wasps' magnificent Heineken European Cup victory over Leicester Tigers.