Ian McLauchlan confirmed as new SRU president

IAN McLauchlan is to be the next president of the Scottish Rugby Union, it was confirmed from Murrayfield yesterday. The 68-year-old former national captain, who has been nominated unopposed, will take up office at the SRU's annual general meeting at the end of June.

• Incoming SRU president Ian McLauchlan made a habit of criticising rugby chiefs when he was a successful player for the national side. Picture: SNS

McLauchlan, who won 43 Scotland caps and played on two successful Lions tours, decided to apply after consulting widely within the game. He has made it clear he has no specific axe to grind on any area of policy, but instead wants to "strengthen rugby in Scotland and assist in any way I can".

The position of president has been a contentious one at times in recent years, with the office-bearer clashing with senior full-time administrators. McLauchlan, however, is confident he can work well with chief executive Gordon McKie and his colleagues, perceiving himself as a unity candidate.

McLauchlan will in part play an ambassadorial role, but he also hopes his business background can help the SRU commercially. As the founder of Ian McLauchlan Associates, he has long been involved in the worlds of corporate hospitality and event management.

McLauchlan will succeed Jim Stevenson as president. Stevenson will remain on the Scottish Rugby Council, however, as a representative of the National League clubs.

Besides McLauchlan, three members of the rugby council have been elected unopposed: women's representative Kath Vass, new referees' rep Fergus Neil who takes over from Jim Fleming, and schools rep Bruce Thompson, who succeeds Norman Anderson. There will be elections, however, for several club representatives.