Scotland's Ian McGeechan appears set to be knighted in the New Year's Honours list for his outstanding services to rugby.
The Lions won the last Test in Johannesburg this year and lost the first two but it took a last minute 50m+ kick to beat the Lions in the second Test which was held in Pretoria.
He recently described the rugby that was played on the tour as "some of the best rugby he had ever been associated with".
Although the Lions lost this tour McGeechan played in all four Tests of the triumphant 1974 tour of South Africa and then toured again when the Lions visited New Zealand in 1977.
After he hung up his boots he took to coaching and led the Lions through Australia in 1989, then New Zealand in 1993 and also South Africa in 1997.
Although he is known for being a Scotsman he was actually born in Leeds and was was awarded an OBE in 1990 after coaching Scotland to a sensational victory over England.
He follows in the footsteps England's World Cup-winning coach Sir Clive Woodward in being knighted.
As a club coach he played a big hand in the revival of Northampton and then enjoyed great success with Wasps working first with Warren Gatland and then Shaun Edwards.
Ian McGeechan's international playing/coaching career
British and Irish Lions:
Head coach
1989: Australia
1993: New Zealand
1997: South Africa
2009: South Africa
Assistant coach
2005: New Zealand
