Ian McLauchlan

Ian McLauchlan
OBE
Birth name John McLauchlan
Date of birth (1942-04-14) 14 April 1942
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9¼ in)
Weight 92 kg (14 st 7 lb; 203 lb)[1]
University Jordanhill College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Prop
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
Correct as of 15 November 2009
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
1969-1979
1971-1974		 Scotland
British Lions		 43
8		 (0)
(3)
Correct as of 15 November 2009

John "Ian" McLauchlan OBE (born 14 April 1942)[2] is a former Scottish rugby union player.[3] Nicknamed Mighty Mouse, he represented Scotland at loosehead prop from 1969 to 1979.[3][4]

His scrummaging and loose play were both of a high standard. Gordon Brown rated him the best prop he had played alongside.[4] He was capped 43 times for Scotland, and was captain of the national side nineteen times (ten times of which Scotland won).[3]

He had to wait until second half of his twenties for a cap, and played for another ten years, before being dropped in 1979.[5]

His nickname "Mighty Mouse" was from the fact that he was relatively small for a prop, but powerful for his size, like the cartoon character of the same name:

"Like McLeod, Ian McLauchlan was short and about as broad as a church door... There was always something a bit odd about his figure even before he acquired a certain rotundity that made him more like a French than a British prop. But nobody found him easy to prop against: he burrowed under the opposition."[4]

Richard Bath writes:

"Certainly, McLauchlan was not the conventional size and shape for a loose-head prop in the 1970s, but in many ways it was precisely the combination of an amazing power to weight ratio plus his ability to get under the opposing tight-head that made him such an effective performer in the tight... As a larger than life character, he played best in the most intimidating circumstances... making him one of Scotland's most successful captains. After his retirement the Scottish Rugby Union showed their gratitude by banning him for publishing his autobiography".[3]

On the Lions tour to New Zealand in 1971 he played in all four tests after Irish prop Ray McLaughlin broke his thumb punching Alex Wyllie in the notorious Battle of Canterbury the week before the first test.[6]

He played in eight tests for the British Lions on the 1971 tour to New Zealand and the 1974 tour to South Africa, only once finishing on the losing side.

He became a Scotland captain, and even led them in the Calcutta Cup match of 1973, despite breaking a bone in his leg two weeks before against Ireland, according to Massie "it says much for the persuasive power of his character that he convinced the selectors he was able to play."[5]

References

  • Bath, Richard (ed.) The Complete Book of Rugby (Seven Oaks Ltd, 1997 ISBN 1-86200-013-1)
  • Massie, Allan A Portrait of Scottish Rugby (Polygon, Edinburgh; ISBN 0-904919-84-6)
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