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Ian McLauchlan, Scotland and Lions great, dies at 83

Ian McLauchlan, the former Scotland captain and part of the successful British & Irish Lions tours to New Zealand and South Africa in 1971 and 1974, has died at the age of 83.

The prop, who led his country 19 times in his 43 appearances, played his last Test against New Zealand at Murrayfield in November 1979. Weighing 14st 6lb (91.6kg) on his debut in 1969, McLauchlan earned the nickname “Mighty Mouse”.

He was one of five tourists to start all eight Lions Tests on those two tours, and scored a crucial try as the Lions won 9-3 the first Test in Dunedin in June 1971.

Andy Irvine, a fellow former Scottish Rugby President and teammate of McLauchlan’s for both Scotland and the Lions, paid tribute on 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.”

McLauchlan served as Scottish Rugby’s president from 2010-2012. In 2013, he was inducted to Scottish Rugby’s Hall of Fame and in 2017 he was awarded an OBE in the new year honours list. Scottish Rugby said it was “immensely saddened” to learn of his death on Friday.