Ian McLauchlan, Scotland and Lions great, dies at 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'.
Advertisement
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.
The report will update
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Hibs to rename East stand 'Pat Stanton Stand'
Hibernian have renamed the East stand of Easter Road as the 'Pat Stanton Stand' in honour of one of their greatest sons. A boyhood Hibee, Stanton made his debut at 19 and went on to make 617 appearances during a 13-year stay, scoring 78 goals - one of which was the opener as Hibs won the League Cup in 1972, defeating Celtic. Advertisement The Pat Stanton Stand will "serve as a lasting tribute to his achievements and legacy, inspiring future players and supporters for many years to come." said chairman, Ian Gordon. The official unveiling will take place on Wednesday, 9 July ahead of Hibs' anniversary match with Rot-Weiss Essen.
News24
2 hours ago
- News24
Team Ford NWM draws first blood in South African Rally Raid
Gareth Woolridge and Boyd Dreyer take victory and early championship lead. Saood Variawa and Francois Cazalet place second for Toyota and achieve their highest SARRC finish to date. The next round of the SARRC is in Parys from 15-16 August. With an even shorter race calendar compared to previous years, getting the 2025 South African Rally-Raid Championship (SARRC) season off to a good start was imperative. That's exactly what the Castrol NWM Ford managed to do at this year's season opener in Bronkhorstspruit, with Gareth Woolridge and Boyd Dreyer securing a commanding victory and taking the early championship lead. The team's three-car lineup, now sporting a new white livery with Castrol branding (in place of the familiar blue), showcased exceptional speed with the NWM Evo Plus relishing the fast, dusty conditions. Gareth and Boyd entered the final stage with an 11-second advantage over their Toyota rivals, Saood Variawa and Francois Cazalet, but they could not rest on their laurels. They did the opposite and grew the lead by nearly three minutes to claim top honours. Quickpic 'Crossing the finish line in first place at the first event of the year is fantastic', said Gareth Woolridge. 'It's nice to get an edge over the competition early on. We were down a bit in position, but I knew that the vehicle had the pace, and if we kept doing more of the same, we would have the pace. We really pushed hard from start to finish, and the car was indestructible! This result is fantastic for the team, and hopefully, this win sets the tone for the rest of the season.' Adding to the team's impressive showing, Lance Woolridge made an unexpected but impactful return to SARRC competition, stepping in for the injured Wors Prinsloo. Alongside co-driver Andre Vermeulen, they kept a watchful brief on the leading pack and were ready to pounce on any mistakes in front. They crossed the line in fifth place, earning valuable points for the team while Prinsloo gets ready to return to action. Brazilian and South American rally-raid champions Marcos Baumgart and Kleber Cincea gave the team an international flavour. They brought their extensive experience to the South African circuit. The duo, multiple Brazilian Cross Country Championship title holders and 2019 South American champions, achieved a steady drive to finish seventh overall as they adapted to the local demands. 'What an incredible way to start the season,' said team principal Neil Woolridge. 'I'm immensely proud of the entire team; their dedication and hard work over the off-season are really paying off. The improvements we've made to the vehicle were clearly visible out there, and it performed flawlessly across some very tough terrain. A huge thank you to every team member and our valued partners and sponsors for their unwavering support. While this result is exactly what we hoped for, there are still valuable lessons to take from the weekend as we push to be even stronger for the rest of the championship,' said Neil Woolridge. While the Castrol NWM Ford Team celebrated a dominant victory, Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa (TGRSA) also commenced their 2025 SARRC campaign with a podium finish. Saood Variawa and co-driver Francois Cazalet secured an impressive second place overall at the Renault KEC 400 event, marking their highest SARRC finish to date. They completed the event in 6 hours, 10 minutes, and 02 seconds, precisely 2 minutes 38 seconds behind the winning Ford NWM duo. Despite facing challenges such as two punctures and a two-minute penalty, Variawa was satisfied with the result. 'Still, it's a podium finish, my best so far in the championship, and I'm really happy with the team, the car and our performance.' Other TGRSA crews, like Guy Botterill and Oriol Mena, faced mechanical trouble, while João Ferreira and Filipe Palmeiro had an early retirement after landing in a river, fortunately without injury. With this strong start, the Castrol NWM Ford Team is well-positioned for what is anticipated to be a thrilling 2025 SARRC campaign. Both teams will now prepare for the next round in Parys, scheduled for 15-16 August.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Safe standing to 'recreate atmosphere of old days'
Peter Curry says steel bars take away the danger for fans who prefer to stand [BBC] Safe standing areas at the MKM Stadium will "take fans back to the old days of terraces but far more safely", officials have said. The football and rugby league ground, which is home to Hull City and Hull FC, has been adapted for 2,600 standing places in the north and east stands, which will be used be home and away supporters. Advertisement Fans tested system during a Super League match between Hull FC and Castleford Tigers in June and gave it "positive reviews". Peter Curry, safety and security manager at the MKM Stadium, said: "It's a bit like going back to the olden days, it's not quite a terrace because you have to stand in front of a designated seat, but it's much safer." Seconds of the stadium have been converted into safe standing for home and away fans [BBC] Premier League and Championship clubs have been allowed to introduce safe standing areas since the start of the 2022-23 season. The galvanised steel rails form a barrier to the row of seats in front, allowing fans to stand during matches. The system also allows them to sit down if they choose to without affecting their view. Advertisement Mr Curry said: "Fans will see very little difference to how the stadium looked before, but it will change their experience. "There's no question that in the old days of standing on the terraces at Boothferry Park there was a much better atmosphere. This recreates that but takes the danger away and I'm pleased it's finally arrived." The galvanised steel rails remove the risk of fans falling into the next row [BBC] Officials at the stadium said the system would not have an impact on disabled supporters or those who prefer to sit. Stewards and first aiders have also been given training to work in safe standing areas. Mr Curry added: "Other clubs like Leeds and Sheffield United already have it and we've learned from them. Advertisement "From a safety point of view, we won't have to worry about people falling when they're celebrating and we hope it will give fans confidence. "This is a significant development for our ground and we want people to enjoy it." The introduction of safe standing at the Anlaby Road ground followed consultation with the Sports Ground Safety Authority and supporters' groups. Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. More on this story Related internet links
