Sir Ian McGeechan, the former Scotland and British & Irish Lions head coach, has given a positive health update, revealing that his prostate cancer is “all gone and under control.” The 78-year-old, who is currently a consultant director of rugby at Doncaster Knights, shared the news while advocating for a national prostate cancer screening programme.

Encouraging Update Following Treatment

McGeechan, who disclosed his diagnosis in May 2025, underwent a six-week course of radiotherapy. Speaking to Sky News, he said:

“I finished the treatment at the end of April and then had a follow-up test at the end of May – and the PSA (prostate-specific antigen) was down to 0.8, which effectively said it’s gone. The prostate cancer is all gone and under control, so delighted.”

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, with over 63,000 new cases diagnosed annually in the UK and around 12,000 deaths, according to Prostate Cancer UK.

Calls for a National Screening Programme

McGeechan is now backing calls for a national prostate cancer screening initiative.

“It needs that support from government. There has to be a screening programme because prostate cancer is recoverable,” he said. “It would be a great shame if people miss that opportunity to have a scan and not just be able to have it there rather than be asking, ‘can you, can’t you?’”

He stressed the importance of awareness and early detection:

“If you have got cancer in the family then it just makes sense to be able to offer that screening and just educate people and make them aware of what some of the symptoms are, because I didn’t feel ill, I felt fine.”

A Rugby Career to Remember

McGeechan enjoyed a distinguished career as a fly-half, earning 32 caps for Scotland, including nine as captain. He was part of the victorious 1974 Lions series in South Africa and toured again with the Lions in 1977.

Transitioning into coaching, McGeechan guided Scotland to a Five Nations Grand Slam in 1990 and led the Lions to series victories in both 1989 and 1997. His contributions to the game have cemented him as one of rugby union’s most respected figures.

With his health now stable, McGeechan continues to be an influential figure in rugby while championing early detection and awareness of prostate cancer.