Rugby icon Sir Ian McGeechan reveals prostate cancer battle - 'What will be will be'

Rugby legend Sir Ian McGeechan has revealed he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. The Scot, 78, has a storied career as a player and coach.

He toured South Africa in 1974 and New Zealand in 1977 as a part of the British and Irish Lions, and coached the Lions on four tours to in 1989, New Zealand in 1993 and South Africa in both 1997 and 2009. McGeechan was also an assistant coach to Sir Clive Woodward on the tour of New Zealand in 2005.

Speaking after the announcement on this year's Lions squad for the tour of Australia, McGeechan revealed why it has stirred up even more emotions than usual.

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“I have prostate cancer,” he told from the coach's office at Doncaster Knights, where he is currently Director of Rugby. "I have just completed a six-week course of radiotherapy. I feel alright, really, just a bit more tired. I always sleep well anyway so it has probably just added to it. I have to wait six weeks then have scans and a review of how effective the treatment has been.

“I have told the players here before the treatment started because there would be times when I would not be around for meetings or on the training field with them. The players have asked me how it is going and have been very good.

“I don’t want to make a big thing of it, but it is important to get the message out about urging people to go and get tested. I said that to our players here. I said to them that they make sure they get themselves tested. If you are younger, it is more important.

“Hopefully this interview can be educational. What I would say to people is don’t back off it. It is a blood test, it is not what you always think. Just get it done. I have good people looking after me. It is the very good side of the . The staff of the Bexley Cancer Wing at St James’s Hospital in Leeds have been absolutely brilliant.

“When I had my last treatment, from the receptionist to the radiographer, they all said: ‘Well done, good luck, have a happy time.’ Everyone. They all knew. When they are looking up your details and you are going on to your next step, it says which number of treatment is it, and it is what they say to every person when they get to their last treatment, which I think is great. That support and the environment is so positive. What will be, will be.”

McGeechan revealed he started to suspect there was something wrong when he was getting up for the loo in the middle of the night. The doctor looking after him is a Northern Irishman, a 'rugby man' who recognised the 32-cap Scottish international.

As well as the Lions, McGeechan has also coached , Northampton Saints, Wasps and Bath over the course of his career.