McGeechan the main man for Lions tour

13 April 2012

Ian McGeechan is to make an international comeback next year by leading the Lions on their 10-match tour of South Africa. His selection as head coach is due to be announced this month along with that of Shaun Edwards and David Young.

The selection committee of Andy Irvine (Scotland), Gerald Davies (Wales), Noel Murphy (Ireland) and John Spencer (England) preferred McGeechan to make a seventh Lions tour as player or coach over any current Test coach.

Roaring success: Ian McGeechan will head the Lions

No one else has taken the Lions on more than one tour. This will be the 61-year-old Scot's fifth as coach. During the otherwise catastrophic tour of New Zealand under Sir Clive Woodward three years ago, McGeechan enhanced his reputation in charge of the midweek team.

While the main team stumbled through a number of heavy defeats, the second string under 'Geech' and former Wales coach Gareth Jenkins went through the tour unbeaten.

Edwards is in the throes of following up his role in the Wales Grand Slam season by helping McGeechan guide Wasps into next month's Premiership Grand Final and will hope to do the same for the Lions. Young will drill the pack.

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