Ian McLauchlan, known throughout the rugby world as Mighty Mouse, will be the next president of the Scottish Rugby Union.

McLauchlan, 68, whose phenomenal scrummaging and animated loose play was at the heart of the British and Irish Lions test series successes in New Zealand (1971) and South Africa (1974), has been nominated unopposed by Scotland’s rugby clubs. He will take up his post at Scottish Rugby’s annual general meeting at the end of June.

Ian McLauchlan in his Scotland playing days

Ayrshire-born McLauchlan (Hillhead-Jordanhill) captained Scotland on 19 occasions.  He won his first cap out of the Jordanhill club against England in 1969 and his 43rd and final cap against New Zealand ten years later.

He said today: “My aim will be to strengthen rugby in Scotland and assist in any way I can to help the clubs to build, the pro-teams to build and the national team to build.”

Elsewhere on the Scottish Rugby Council, nominations are being sought for the representative of Premier 1 clubs, following the relegation of Edinburgh Academicals, meaning Ian Barnes will stand down as P1 rep at the agm.

An election will take place for Premier 3 representative to succeed Jim O’Neill who is standing down after Irvine were relegated.  The two candidates are Ian Smith (Hamilton) and John Steele (Dumfries Saints).

A vacancy has also occurred as a representative of National League clubs, as a consequence of Dalziel’s promotion, meaning Archie Ferguson is standing down.  Jim Stevenson (Cambuslang), currently President of the SRU, will demit that office at the end of his term.  However he has been chosen unopposed by National League clubs to take on a new role.

Schools representative Norman Anderson (Berwickshire HS) is standing down at the end of his term.  He will be replaced on the Council by Bruce Thompson (Strathallan) who has been elected unopposed.

Kath Vass (Watsonians) has also been elected unopposed as Women’s representative.

Jim Fleming (Boroughmuir) is standing down at the end of his term as Referees’ representative.  His successor will be Fergus Neil (Whitecraigs) who has been elected unopposed by the Scottish Rugby Referees’ Association.