FORMER British and Irish Lions legend Ian McLauchlan has died at the age of 83.
The former Scotland captain represented his country 43 times as well as playing for the Lions across two tours.
Scottish Rugby confirmed McLauchlan’s passing in a statement that revealed the legend died on Friday.
McLauchlan didn’t just captain Scotland during his playing days, but also acted as the SRU President from 2010-2012 before stepping away from the board in 2019.
The Tarbolton-born prop earned his first cap for Scotland back in 1969 at Twickenham.
In total, he earned 43 caps for Scotland and was captain on 19 occasions, a record until over-taken by fellow loose-head prop, David Sole.
He was affectionately nicknamed ‘Mighty Mouse’ thanks to his incredible strength in comparison to his relatively small stature and his impressive technique in the scrum.
McLauchlan was known for his tough attitude and his unwavering love for rugby.
That passion was typified in 1973 when he captained Scotland against England just two weeks after breaking a bone in his leg against Ireland.
A PE teacher by profession, McLauchlan is one of only five players to feature in all eight Test matches for the Lions on their victorious tours to New Zealand in 1971 and South Africa in 1974.
In 2013 he was inducted into Scottish Rugby’s Hall of Fame and in December 2017 he was awarded an OBE.
Former Scotland and Lions teammate Andy Irvine told Scottish Rugby: “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.”
The Lions official X account paid tribute with a post that read: “Our thoughts are with the friends and family of former Scotland captain, and British & Irish Lions great, Ian McLauchlan, who has passed away at the age of 83”.
