McGeechan demands tradition from Lions

Former Scotland coach Ian McGeechan has revealed he only joined Clive Woodward’s backroom team for next summer’s tour to New Zealand after being assured the traditions of the British and Irish Lions would be upheld.

McGeechan sought assurances that every player in the 44-man squad would have the opportunity to compete for a Test place against the All Blacks.

Only then did he agree to embark on his seventh Lions tour, after previously making two as a player and four as a coach.

He insisted he would have rejected the concept of one group of players for the Tests and another for the midweek matches.

“If it had been two different sides I wouldn’t have been involved but it’s one group of players and two support systems,” he said.

McGeechan explained his dilemma after he was offered a place in Woodward’s record-number backroom team.

“The initial response is to jump at it again because of what the Lions is all about,” said the 53-year-old, now director of rugby with the Scottish RFU.

“But there were also the conventions of what it is all about because there is a certain historic ethos which is dear to me and I wanted to be sure it would be maintained. I’ve had a good chat with Clive and been assured that is the case.

“You bring in players from four countries and they have to feel they have been given the chance to stake their claims for a Test place. If they fail to make it then at least they know they had a real opportunity.”

McGeechan also defended Woodward over criticism about the size of his backroom set up, which will include a barrister and could have former Downing Street spin doctor Alastair Campbell on board as a trouble-shooting media adviser.

“Clive’s real expertise is in drawing a group of people together. He has a real idea of what he wants and a strong way of pulling a group together,” McGeechan added.

“He knows exactly what he wants to do and in the end success will be judged on how the tour operates.”

McGeechan is one of four Lions legends being honoured by the UK's Parliament All Party Rugby Group at an awards dinner at the House of Commons tonight. The quartet, which also includes ex-Ireland skipper and hooker Keith Wood.