IAN McGEECHAN, the former Scotland back, has been appointed for an unprecedented third time as British Lions coach when they tour South Africa next summer.

He links with his old colleague on 1970s Lions tours, Fran Cotton, the English prop who was appointed manager last month.

McGeeckan who coached Scotland before ascending to control of both the 1989 Lions in Australia and the 1993 team in New Zealand, is currently director of rugby at Northampton.