Scotland director of rugby Ian McGeechan belongs to a small, select band of men who have played for and coached the British & Irish Lions. But even among this elite, McGeechan is out on his own as a three-times coach with two series victories to his name.

When the Leeds-born centre went on his first Lions tour, to South Africa in 1974, he and Ireland midfielder Dick Milliken were considered likely understudies to the perceived front-runners of Geoff Evans and Roy Bergiers.

However, both played their way into the Test team - McGeechan with his jinking, balanced running, positional awareness and a dependable defence that belied his slight physique - and then kept the great Mike Gibson on the margins when he arrived as a replacement.

Three years later, McGeechan went to New Zealand as one of the senior hands, again playing in all four Tests and captaining the Lions against Poverty Bay-East Coast and New Zealand Universities .

Sufficiently versatile to play five of his 14 games in 1974 as a stand-off, he also replaced JJ Williams on the wing during the third Test of 1977.

By 1989, McGeechan was transferring the success he enjoyed as Scotland coach to the same position with the Lions as they won the series against Australia 2-1, a success notable for the way they turned the rubber round after a heavy 30-12 defeat in the first Test.

Four years later, the coach was now on the losing side in New Zealand , although the Lions did produce their biggest win over the All Blacks in the second Test and were denied victory in the opener only by a controversial last-minute penalty.

In 1997, McGeechan completed his coaching hat-trick in the sweetest manner, by repeating the series victory in South Africa he experienced as a player.

The defeat of the Springboks was a tactical triumph for the Scot and his right-hand man Jim Telfer, who startled the odds-on favourites with the Lions' innovative running patterns and aggressive defence.

By the time South Africa caught their breath, they were 2-0 down and the series was over. And McGeechan's reward? A free head shave from Keith Wood, demon barber of Limerick.