Honorary
Doctorates |
Leeds Met honours rugby union star
Rugby Union star Ian McGeechan received an Honorary Doctorate
during Leeds Met's Graduation 2004.
A former Carnegie student, Ian McGeechan won 32 caps for Scotland at rugby union and went on to coach the Scotland team. He also played for and coached the British Lions and took up the post of Director of Rugby of the Scottish Rugby Union in 2003.
Born in 1946, Ian McGeechan was educated at Moor Grange and
Allerton Moor Schools in Leeds and Carnegie College of Physical
Education, a constituent of Leeds Metropolitan University. He
was a school teacher for 22 years before joining Scottish Life
in 1990.
Ian said: "Looking back and standing in front of the main building
[of the Carnegie Campus] it is exactly the same as I remembered
it in 1965. However, going through the doors to the main building
there have been huge changes; I understand how much life and
education have moved forward.
“Carnegie is part of my roots. It is here I really learnt to study for real and was given the opportunity to enjoy and study sport seriously. There is no doubt I left Carnegie knowing more about myself, the value of detailed and critical evaluation and not to be afraid of challenging myself. Being at Carnegie was the first time I came across the word ‘excellence’...and the first time I understood the notion of winning, success and what that can mean. At Carnegie there was always someone who took the time to sit with students and encourage them.”
Ian made his rugby debut for Yorkshire Colts in 1965 and for Yorkshire County XV in 1966. His first Scotland trial was in 1968 and his debut was as stand-off against the All Blacks at Murrayfield in December 1972. Ian won 32 caps for Scotland – 12 at centre and 12 at stand-off, captaining the side nine times. He toured South Africa with the British Lions as a player in 1974 and New Zealand in 1977, participating in all eight tests.
Ian was British Lions coach in Australia in 1989, New Zealand in 1993 and South Africa in 1997. He was the assistant Scotland coach to Derrick Grant from 1986-88 (including the inaugural Rugby World Cup in New Zealand in 1987). During his time as Scotland coach between 1988-1993 the team completed the Grand Slam in 1990, toured New Zealand and came fourth in the Rugby Union World Cup. He joined Scotland as Head Coach in 1999 from Northampton Saints after having won the Allied Dunbar Premiership coach of the season award in 1998/99.
When addressing the students Ian said: “It is a great honour to be standing here accepting this award, especially in a ceremony where there is such achievement. You will have all gone through huge trials and tribulations to get these awards but this is a room full of winners.
“We all need roots to grow and wings to fly. Your roots are what makes you; family, friends and this University. When these are in place we get the confidence to fly. It is a huge honour being part of this today. I wish everyone of you every success with [finding] your wings to fly.”
Ian counts amongst his many accolades the Mussabina Medal from
Sportscoach UK for his services to coaching; the Pat Marshall
award; and the Millennium Award from Sportscotland.
In 1990 he was awarded the OBE and in 2001 was entered into the
Sportscoach UK Hall of Fame. He took up the post of Director
of Rugby of the Scottish Rugby Union on Jim Telfer’s retirement
at the end of last year.
