Ex-RFU chief talked McGeechan into staying

Former Scotland coach Ian McGeechan was persuaded to stay on with the Scottish Rugby Union by ex-chairman David Mackay.

A question-mark hung over whether SRU director of rugby McGeechan would stay in his post after the resignations of Mackay and chief executive Phil Anderton earlier this month.

The pair stepped down after a vote of ‘no confidence’ in Mackay by the SRU general committee.

But the ex-Lions coach insists the encouragement from Mackay and interim SRU chairman Fred McLeod convinced him to stay as director of rugby at Murrayfield.

McGeechan told the Sunday Herald: “David phoned me to say he had resigned on the Sunday afternoon. It was a huge surprise. I just never expected it.

“You review where you are, what you’re doing, what might and might not be.

“I got some reassurances, and David and I spoke after that. He thought it was very important that I stayed.

“Subsequently, Fred McLeod came on board and it was the same message I got from him.”