Wasps director of rugby Ian McGeechan has been confirmed as head coach for the 2009 Lions tour of South Africa.
The Scot has already coached on four previous Lions trips, three as head coach, including the victorious 1997 series win over the Springboks.
McGeechan, 61, was also a player on the 1974 and 1977 Lions side tours.
“From day one McGeechan was in our thoughts, he’s the most successful coach in Lions history,” said Lions chairman Andy Irvine.
“We wanted someone with a special bond with the Lions. We looked elsewhere as well but time and again we kept going back to Ian,” added Irvine.
“The 2005 tour (of New Zealand) was very disappointing as we lost the Test series 3-0 so it’s vital we have the best leadership for to achieve success in South Africa.”
McGeechan, coach of the successful midweek team in 2005 as one of Sir Clive Woodward’s assistants, guided the Lions to series victories over Australia in 1989 and then-world champions South Africa in 1997, as well as a narrow series defeat by New Zealand in 1993.
The former Scotland and Northampton coach was always favourite to take on the role for the three-Test, 10-match tour from 30 May - 4 July next year against the world champion Springboks.
As a Lions player, the former Scotland centre featured in all four Tests of the 1974 series victory over South Africa and all four against New Zealand three years later
best man for the job to be honest…would expect edwards to have a fairly prominant role also…
wonder who will be the lions captain…ryan jones, steve borthwick, o driscoll, o connell etc…