McGeechan has been involved in six Lions tours

McGeechan took charge of the unbeaten midweek team on the recent tour of New Zealand, as well as assisting head coach Clive Woodward.

Some analysts believed McGeechan should be back in charge for the next tour.

But he told the Scotsman: "I think this is it for me and I will look back on six wonderful tours, lots of highs and lows, but great enjoyment."

McGeechan defended Woodward from criticism after the three Test defeats by the All Blacks.

"I would never accept that the All Blacks were just too good for us and nothing we could have done would have been successful.

"We lost some huge players to the northern hemisphere game in the last year - Martin Johnson for instance, and Lawrence Dallaglio and Richard Hill on this tour. And Brian O'Driscoll. You need these sorts of players in a Test series like this.

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"But the Lions is about taking a snapshot of rugby for one, brief period.

"Whenever you do a Lions preparation, it's where you are at that particular point and what you think as a coach will work.

"Clive took a snapshot view of 'this is the way I think is the best preparation to beat the All Blacks', and that's what he got the backing for. The next Lions coach will take his own view.

"If the answer was easy, everyone would be doing the same thing, but it isn't because things like injuries, how serious they are and when they occur; players' form and ability to gel, are all things you can't control.

"But the atmosphere on this tour has been outstanding. I looked around at the players after my final midweek game, against Auckland, and it reminded me why I want to be a rugby coach in a tracksuit, which is why I'm joining Wasps and no longer going to work in a suit."