British and Irish Lions Legends – Scotland
The Best Scottish Players to Have Graced the Lions Jersey
The Scottish contingent of two originally selected for the 2009 British and Irish Lions Tour to South Africa is amongst the smallest ever. It is a great disappointment to follow a poor Six Nations showing. This, in a season which started so promisingly when the Scots gave the World Champion Springboks a scare in a game they should have won.
This year’s Lions, Euan Blair and Nathan Hines can, however, look back at a great tradition of Scots who have worn the Lions jersey with disctinction. Here are some of the best.
Gavin Hastings British Lions
Gavin Hastings is one of the greatest rugby players ever to come out of Scotland. A strong full back, Hastings was solid as the last line of defence and dangerous when bursting into the line. He was also a prolific goal kicker.
Hastings played in 6 tests on two tours, captaining the 1993 Lions in New Zealand. In 1989, he and his brother Scott, became the first siblings to play in the same Lions team. Gavin scored the winning try in the second test from a, (bouncing), pass from his brother.
Gordon Brown British Lions
“Broon Frae Troon”, earned 8 Lions caps across three tours that spanned the Lions golden era, 1971, 1974,1977. At 6’ 5” tall and 17 stone, Brown was a giant of a man, but he had far more to his game than the traditional scrum and lineout skills.
Brown had a knack for getting on the score sheet. While his brother and fellow second row Peter was earning plaudits for kicking goals, Gordon had a nose for the try-line. On the unbeaten tour to South Africa, Brown scored eight tries, unheard of for a lock in those days. Two of those tries came in the test series.
Andy Irvine British Lions
Andy Irvine was another Scottish full back who had it all. His place kicking was a huge strength and he held the World points scoring record when he retired from international rugby. However, it was his skill and speed with the ball in hand that he will be most remembered for.
Irvine toured three times, ’74, ’77 and ’80. His versatility meant that he earned his first two caps on the wing, scoring in the final test in South Africa in ‘74. In all, he played 9 Lions tests, scoring two tries amongst his Lions haul of 28 points. Irvine is Scotland’s most capped Lion.
Ian McGlauchlan British Lions
Ian, ‘Might Mouse’, McGlauchlan wasn’t expected to make the Lions test team in 1971 and the All Blacks were licking their lips when the first choice props were invalided out of the tour after the brutal match against Canterbury.
At little more than 5’ 8”, McGlauchlan was considered too small by many, but he made them pay. Not only did he and fellow understudy Sean Lynch have fine games, McGlauchlan scored the try that proved the difference in the Lions first test victory.
McGlauchlan cemented his place in Lions history by playing in all four tests on the 1974 tour to South Africa. The Lions front row on that tour of McLaughlan, Windsor and Cotton, is considered by many to be the finest in the side’s history.
Jim Telfer British Lions
Telfer came back into the public eye as the tough talking forwards coach on the South Africa tour in 1997. His, ‘Everest’ speech, to the forwards before the 1st Test was featured on the tour DVD, ‘Living with Lions’ and has since been used on Guinness adverts.
Telfer toured twice with the Lions in 1966 and 1968. A hard-nosed back row player Telfer was captain of the Lions for the infamous, 'Battle of Canterbury'. Capped eight times, Telfer also coached the 1983 Lions.
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