Lions Great Mcgeechan Diagnosed With Prostate Cancer

Former Scotland and British and Irish Lions caput coach Sir Ian McGeechan says he has been diagnosed pinch prostate cancer.

McGeechan won 32 caps for Scotland, captaining them 9 times, and toured pinch nan Lions successful 1974, winning nan bid successful South Africa, and successful 1977.

He coached Scotland to nan Five Nations Grand Slam successful 1990 and led nan Lions to bid victories arsenic coach successful 1989 and 1997.

The 78-year-old is presently advisor head of rugby astatine Championship nine Doncaster Knights.

McGeechan told nan Telegraph, external he had conscionable completed a six-week people of radiotherapy.

"I don't want to make a large point of it, but it is important to get nan connection retired astir urging group to spell and get tested," he said.

"I said that to our players here, to make judge they get themselves tested.

"I person an opportunity present astatine Doncaster and I person a bully family, and I conscionable don't deliberation immoderate differently. I americium trying to do each nan correct things for my wellness and fitness."

McGeechan triumphed connected his first circuit arsenic Lions caput coach, overseeing nan side's 2-1 bid triumph successful Australia successful 1989.

He was astatine nan helm for nan 2-1 bid conclusion successful New Zealand 4 years later, earlier masterminding an against-the-odds bid triumph complete world champions South Africa successful 1997.

That circuit was later immortalised successful nan 'Living pinch Lions' movie which included footage of stirring pre-match speeches to his players.

Appointed Scotland coach successful 1988, McGeechan led his broadside to their astir Grand Slam 2 years later, courtesy of an iconic 13-7 triumph complete England.

As a coach astatine nine level, he won nan European Cup pinch Wasps successful 2007 and nan English Premiership successful 2008.

He besides returned for a 4th Lions circuit arsenic caput coach successful 2009, a 2-1 conclusion successful South Africa, and worked arsenic an adjunct connected nan 2005 circuit to New Zealand.