McGeechan rules out Lions return
December 4, 2002

Scotland coach Ian McGeechan has ruled a a possible return to coaching with the British & Irish Lions in 2005 after stepping down from his national post after the World Cup.

Speaking at his announcement to step down after next year's global showpiece McGeechan insisted the move will effectively end his coaching career.

McGeechan 56, declared that his long-time partner Jim Telfer, whose retirement from the director of rugby post led to McGeechan's decision, had advised him not to consider taking full charge of a Lions tour.

"Having spoken to Jim, he thinks I'll be totally tied up, so there is no chance," McGeechan told the Herald.

"It should move on and in a way I said that last time. It was a privilege to do three Lions tours but I think there will be and should be coaches coming through who will take the next one and have the same enjoyment and experience that Jim and I had the privilege to have."

As for the Scotland post McGeechan added, "It's a way of life, an all- enveloping thing and only a professional coach could do the job of Scotland coach, so aspiring club coaches would have to become professional coaches at some time in this country or other places before they could hope to be the Scotland coach,"

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