He was one of the stalwarts of the 1990 Grand Slam triumph and was the proudest of Lions on his forays abroad.
And now, former Scotland internationalist John Jeffrey has been elected chairman of the Six Nations Council for a three-year term.
He takes over from Pat Whelan who had been in the role since April 2016 and becomes the first Scot to assume the position since Allan Hosie in the late 1990s /early 2000s.
Jeffrey, a redoubtable back row star in his prime who was nicknamed the “White Shark”, hails from Kelso in the Scottish Borders and earned 40 caps for Scotland during his international career between 1984 and 1991.
He was also selected for the British and Irish Lions in 1986 for their match against the Rest of the World and for the victorious 1989 tour to Australia, where he joined the likes of the Hastings brothers, Gavin and Scott, David Sole and Finlay Calder.
He has been a member of the Six Nations Council since 2012 and has also represented his country at World Rugby since 2010, where he has sat on the executive committee since 2016 and chaired the Rugby Committee for the last six years.
Jeffrey said: “It is a privilege to be elected Chairman of the Six Nations Council and to be involved in the development of Rugby’s Greatest Championship.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank my predecessor Pat Whelan for his dedication over the last three years.”
Scottish Rugby president, Dee Bradbury, said: “This is an excellent appointment and I am delighted for JJ to now be in this role.
“He has represented Scotland with great integrity at a global and local level for many years and his insight and counsel have always been of value.
“I woud like to wish him well in his new role and I am pleased we have a Scottish representative in such a key position.”
Bernard Laporte of France was elected as vice chairman.
