Ian McLauchlan, Scotland and British & Irish Lions great, dies at 83

‘Mighty Mouse’ led his country 19 times, winning 43 caps

The former Scotland and British & Irish Lions prop Ian McLauchlan has died at the age of 83. The Ayrshire-born McLauchlan, who was known throughout the rugby world as Mighty Mouse, won 43 caps for Scotland between 1969 and 1979, captaining the side 19 times. Pic: Reg Speller/Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

The former Scotland and British & Irish Lions prop Ian McLauchlan has died at the age of 83. The Ayrshire-born McLauchlan, who was known throughout the rugby world as Mighty Mouse, won 43 caps for Scotland between 1969 and 1979, captaining the side 19 times.

McLauchlan’s legacy was cemented on the victorious Lions tours of New Zealand and South Africa in 1971 and 1974, being one of only five players to feature in all eight Test matches.

His only Test try against New Zealand in June 1971, when he charged down an attempted All Blacks clearance to touch down in a 9-3 win, has passed into Lions folklore.

Weighing 14st 6lbs when he won his first cap, McLauchlan was regularly able to burrow under heavier tight-head props and give his team a set-piece advantage at a time when scrums were much more prevalent in the game.

His former Scotland and Lions teammate Andy Irvine told the Scottish Rugby website: “He was some character and some player. He was smaller than most props he came up against but I never saw anyone get the better of him.

“He was so tough, almost indestructible. What a fantastic career he had for Scotland and the Lions. It’s very, very sad.”

His only Test try against New Zealand in June 1971, when he charged down an attempted All Blacks clearance to touch down in a 9-3 win, has passed into Lions folklore.

After his playing career McLauchlan, who had been a teacher in Edinburgh, spent a brief spell in rugby journalism before setting up his own marketing company.

He served as a member of the Scottish Rugby Board from 2010 to 2019 and was president of the Scottish Rugby Union between 2010 and 2012. He was also awarded an OBE in the 2017 new year honours list.

McLauchlan was also a director of European Professional Club Rugby and played a key role in the transition from the previous competitions overseen by ERC.

Guardian