Legendary former British and Irish Lions coach Sir Ian McGeechan has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. 

The sportsman, 78, has had to undergo a six-week course of radiotherapy at a hospital in Leeds following a blood test, he told The Telegraph. 

Best known for his work as a coach, McGeechan was capped 32 times by Scotland and participated in eight Tests for the Lions as a player. 

He now works as a consultant director of rugby at Doncaster Knights in the Championship, and has urged the club’s members to get tested following his own diagnosis. 

‘I have just completed a six-week course of radiotherapy,’ he said. ‘I feel all right, really, just a bit more tired.

‘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.’ 

He added: ‘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.’ 

The teacher has also had two separate stints as Scotland coach, as well as tenures at Northampton, Bath and Wasps. 

Former British and Irish Lions coach Sir Ian McGeechan (pictured last year) has been diagnosed with prostate cancer 

McGeechan (left) and Tony Neary (right) during a game at a Rugby Union, Silver Jubilee Match in 1977 

McGeechan with his wife Judy after he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle

He led the Lions in 1989, 1993, 1997 and 2009, overseeing victories in 1989 and most famously in 1997. 

Around one in eight men will get prostate cancer in their lifetime in the United Kingdom, according to Prostate Cancer UK figures. 

Last month, Wes Streeting declared his support for a national prostate cancer screening programme in a major boost for the Mail’s campaign.

The health secretary told MPs he would like to see the NHS proactively offer men tests for the disease in a move that could prevent thousands of needless deaths.

He said he is ‘particularly sympathetic’ to the argument that this should initially be targeted at high-risk men.

This includes those who are black or have a family history of prostate cancer.

His remarks came a day after a landmark poll showed 94 per cent of GPs also back the Mail’s calls for such a scheme.

Best known for his work as a coach, McGeechan (pictured in 2009) was capped 32 times by Scotland and appeared in eight Tests for the Lions as a player

He now works as a consultant director of rugby at Doncaster Knights in the Championship, and has urged the club’s members following his own diagnosis

McGeechan poses at Farleigh House,the team headquarters in June 2010

Analysis by Prostate Cancer Research suggested this would lead to an extra 775 cases being diagnosed early each year among men aged 45 to 69.

The UK National Screening Committee, which advises the government on which screening programmes to offer, is currently considering recent developments around prostate cancer diagnosis and is due to report its findings later this year.

Writing exclusively in the Mail, Mr Streeting said: ‘I hope they can recommend a way forward that allows the NHS to seek out prostate cancer more proactively for those most at risk.’

Prostate cancer is the most diagnosed form of cancer in England, with 55,033 cases identified in 2023, the latest figures show.

Catching prostate cancer early improves the chances of successfully treating the disease, which kills around 10,200 men in England each year.