Ian McLaughlan passes away age 83
https://scottishrugby.org/obituary-ian-mclauchlan/
Mighty Mouse Gone
RIP. The blueprint for the small, mobile prop. An absolute hero of my early days at Murrayfield with my dad.FalconJock wrote: Sat Jun 21, 2025 2:18 pm Ian McLaughlan passes away age 83
https://scottishrugby.org/obituary-ian-mclauchlan/
In the 70's when Scottish International rugby was in the doldrums Mighty Mouse was a shining beacon
3rd choice prop at the start of the 71 NZ Lions tour , the started all Test games , winning the series , scoring a momentous try - then went to RSA in 74 Lions tour - again played in all the tests , winning the series.,
8 lions test games . 22 non test lions games, 43 Scottish caps
Captain of the national side nineteen times (ten times of which Scotland won. )
One of Scotland's greatest forwards , if not the greatest
3rd choice prop at the start of the 71 NZ Lions tour , the started all Test games , winning the series , scoring a momentous try - then went to RSA in 74 Lions tour - again played in all the tests , winning the series.,
8 lions test games . 22 non test lions games, 43 Scottish caps
Captain of the national side nineteen times (ten times of which Scotland won. )
One of Scotland's greatest forwards , if not the greatest
Lager & Lime - we don't do cocktails
Was he around at the same time as Sandy CarmichaelDogbert wrote: Sat Jun 21, 2025 4:38 pm In the 70's when Scottish International rugby was in the doldrums Mighty Mouse was a shining beacon
3rd choice prop at the start of the 71 NZ Lions tour , the started all Test games , winning the series , scoring a momentous try - then went to RSA in 74 Lions tour - again played in all the tests , winning the series.,
8 lions test games . 22 non test lions games, 43 Scottish caps
Captain of the national side nineteen times (ten times of which Scotland won. )
One of Scotland's greatest forwards , if not the greatest
I can vaguely recall getting them confused years ago
SaintK wrote: Sat Jun 21, 2025 4:44 pmWas he around at the same time as Sandy CarmichaelDogbert wrote: Sat Jun 21, 2025 4:38 pm In the 70's when Scottish International rugby was in the doldrums Mighty Mouse was a shining beacon
3rd choice prop at the start of the 71 NZ Lions tour , the started all Test games , winning the series , scoring a momentous try - then went to RSA in 74 Lions tour - again played in all the tests , winning the series.,
8 lions test games . 22 non test lions games, 43 Scottish caps
Captain of the national side nineteen times (ten times of which Scotland won. )
One of Scotland's greatest forwards , if not the greatest
I can vaguely recall getting them confused years ago
Yeah, they played together for West of Scotland*, Scotland and the Lions iirc, along with Gordon Brown.
*just in case, I don't want to teach egg-sucking, West of Scotland Football Club were formed in 1865, before codification. I make the point that they are a club, not a district
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Not quite.. Ian MacLauchlan played for Jordanhill College. Sandy Carmichael played for West, along with Gordon Brown, Quintin Dunlop, Chris Rea and others who were capped. They did however, play together for Glasgow District.
There was a fantastic picture of him lifting Jazz Muller, the NZ prop, clear airborne in a scrum on the 1971 Lions tour. He had phenomenal strength and technical proficiency. Another of my boyhood heroes shuffling on alas. A great player indeed.
There was a fantastic picture of him lifting Jazz Muller, the NZ prop, clear airborne in a scrum on the 1971 Lions tour. He had phenomenal strength and technical proficiency. Another of my boyhood heroes shuffling on alas. A great player indeed.
BagfordViper wrote: Sat Jun 21, 2025 6:26 pm Not quite.. Ian MacLauchlan played for Jordanhill College. Sandy Carmichael played for West, along with Gordon Brown, Quintin Dunlop, Chris Rea and others who were capped. They did however, play together for Glasgow District.
There was a fantastic picture of him lifting Jazz Muller, the NZ prop, clear airborne in a scrum on the 1971 Lions tour. He had phenomenal strength and technical proficiency. Another of my boyhood heroes shuffling on alas. A great player indeed.
Right enough on Jordanhill

Sackcloth and ashes for me, then.
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Hardly. A very reasonable error to make. Another intriguing snippet about Might Mouse is that he got his first Scottish trial as far back as in 1963, well before his first cap, at Twickenham in 1963. It was Billy Steele's first cap too.. David Duckham was on fire that day, scoring a couple of peaches and putting Scotland well and truly to the sword, unfortunately.
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Oops, first cap v England in 1969, not 1963.
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What's the pantheon?
Go with top five.
My own personal . in no particular order
Ian McLauchlan
Tom Smith
Doddie Weir
David Leslie
David Sole
But Gordon Brown, Sandy Carmichael, Jim Calder, Finlay Calder all could be in there too
Lager & Lime - we don't do cocktails
I would add Derek White into that mix, an absolute beast in the tackleDogbert wrote: Sun Jun 22, 2025 6:54 pmMy own personal . in no particular order
Ian McLauchlan
Tom Smith
Doddie Weir
David Leslie
David Sole
But Gordon Brown, Sandy Carmichael, Jim Calder, Finlay Calder all could be in there too
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What about Calder and Jeffrey?ASMO wrote: Mon Jun 23, 2025 11:22 amI would add Derek White into that mix, an absolute beast in the tackleDogbert wrote: Sun Jun 22, 2025 6:54 pmMy own personal . in no particular order
Ian McLauchlan
Tom Smith
Doddie Weir
David Leslie
David Sole
But Gordon Brown, Sandy Carmichael, Jim Calder, Finlay Calder all could be in there too
I aave covered both the Calder twins ( although twins, they never played in the same Scotland Team )Uncle fester wrote: Mon Jun 23, 2025 11:54 amWhat about Calder and Jeffrey?ASMO wrote: Mon Jun 23, 2025 11:22 amI would add Derek White into that mix, an absolute beast in the tackleDogbert wrote: Sun Jun 22, 2025 6:54 pm
My own personal . in no particular order
Ian McLauchlan
Tom Smith
Doddie Weir
David Leslie
David Sole
But Gordon Brown, Sandy Carmichael, Jim Calder, Finlay Calder all could be in there too
Jeffery could certainly be in there though, as could Derek White.
They only current player that could possibly sneak in is Zander, but as he is still playing I ruled him out of my personal selection
Lager & Lime - we don't do cocktails
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Nathan Hines not considered on account of being a dirty crim?
Rob Wainwright was a pretty decent player also but not in the level of the guys above.
Killer B's back row could have been excellent but for various reasons, it never happened.
Rob Wainwright was a pretty decent player also but not in the level of the guys above.
Killer B's back row could have been excellent but for various reasons, it never happened.
The Killer B's were also cursed to be playing with a dreadful collection of backs, so even if they had had a longer period of time together in the national team, it would have been futile.Uncle fester wrote: Mon Jun 23, 2025 6:18 pm Nathan Hines not considered on account of being a dirty crim?
Rob Wainwright was a pretty decent player also but not in the level of the guys above.
Killer B's back row could have been excellent but for various reasons, it never happened.
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Not so sure about Beattie. I always felt he was a but of a flat track bully and much preferred Ian Paxton at No 8.