Former Scotland captain passed away

NEWS: Former Scotland captain, past President of the Scottish Rugby Union, and British & Irish Lions loosehead prop Ian McLauchlan passed away on Friday, June 20, at the age of 83.

McLauchlan led his country 19 times in his 43 caps and played his last Test against New Zealand at Murrayfield in November 1979.

He cemented his place as one of British rugby’s all-time greats by becoming one of only five players to feature in all eight Test matches for the British & Irish Lions on their victorious tours to New Zealand in 1971 and South Africa in 1974.

His only Test try came in the first Test in Dunedin in June 1971 when he charged down an attempted New Zealand clearance to touch down, a vital moment in a 9-3 win.

McLauchlan taught at Broughton High School in Edinburgh, and when he retired from playing had a brief spell in rugby journalism before setting up his own marketing company.

He became President of the SRU in seasons 2010/11 and 2011/12, during which Scotland’s men were unbeaten on two summer tours, Argentina (2010) and Australasia (2012) and also enjoyed victories over South Africa and Ireland (away).

Scottish Rugby is immensely saddened to learn of the death yesterday, 20 June, of former Scotland captain, Past President of the SRU and British & Irish Lions loosehead prop, Ian McLauchlan OBE. He was 83.

Obituary: https://t.co/tBuupYfQlS pic.twitter.com/4zPejv1Ltk

— Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) June 21, 2025

Known throughout the rugby world as Mighty Mouse, Ian McLauchlan displayed characteristics in spades that made him the ultimate rugby warrior.

He was brave. He captained Scotland against England in 1973, just a fortnight after he had broken a bone in his leg against Ireland.

He was loyal, giving 60 years of service from his first cap at Twickenham in 1969 to his last Scottish Rugby Board meeting in 2019.

He was a trail-blazer, the first former pupil of Ayr Academy and first student of Jordanhill College to be capped for Scotland.

He was also a strong advocate for the women’s game, supporting the team at the Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2010.

He served as a member of the Scottish Rugby Board from 2010-2019 and was a director of EPCR (European Professional Club Rugby), playing a pivotal role in the transition from the previous competitions overseen by ERC.

In 2013, he was inducted into Scottish Rugby’s Hall of Fame and in December 2017, he was awarded OBE in the New Year’s Honours List.

Image credit: @ScottishRugby