bill mclaren on welsh rugby

Butler became a published author in 2014. Hes not a man you could hide in a lineout! Not just a Scottish rugby legend, Bill McLaren is widely regarded as one of the greatest sports broadcasters of all time. It was said that Bill McLaren, whohas died aged 86, was the voice ofrugby. Invite us to tell stories in your school or club. In this case, McLaren is referring to the entire Springbok pack. Geoghegan was one of the best wingers of his generation but had to retire early due to a foot injury. Throughout his distinguished career he earned . Bill survived. Butler was born on 8 May 1957. This weekend, like any other when the Six Nations Championship is being held, he will watch the matches from television at his home. However, Gibbs was also renowned as a hard-tackling machine. Butler later became a published author. Murray added: "Bill was like the Wikipedia of rugby, long before there was Wikipedia. His expressions and the sound of that unique Scottish burrrr, remain vivid memories for a generation who grew up to enjoy and admire his commentaries during the 50 years of his tenure. Here are the next 15 unique quotes from Bill McLaren: On French forward, Cristian Califano, built like a bicycle shed, And theres Beaumont in that English scrum looking like a man who enjoys his food , Theres a few stone o Border beef in that scrum, There goes 18 stones of prime Scottish beef on the hoof (anyone know who Bill is referring to here?). Bill McLaren died on 19 January 2010 at the age of 86 in his home town of Hawick. Thanks v much Jasen, keep them coming. 2023 BBC. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. He was selected for the British and Irish Lions in 1967, 1971, and 1974. Siege Gun a gem. Here are seven quotes. *Theyll be simply chuffed to bits down at. He was the player who won 16 caps for Wales and captained his country on six occasions before retiring from international rugby union aged 27. He would offer us that curled hand in a two-finger shake and a bag of Hawick balls, round brown sweets boiled in peppermint oil. HIS 50 years behind the microphone led to his reputation as "the voice of rugby". The BBC also wheeled Butler out when big, multi-sport events were taking place, his seemingly effortless bardic style bringing them to life. There was no audio, but you didnt need to speak Scots to lip-read that he was saying something that rhymed with rucking hell. Historian Murray Watson said he had spent two years going through 30,000 different items from the room. Born in Chorley, Lancashire, he played 10 times at Test level and proved an exceptional player for Swansea RFC, for whom he made 242 appearances and skippered in 1976-77. *Theyll be dancing in the streets of Hawick/Selkirk/ tonight. That teammate was winger Gerald Davies. Sometimes you had to tug away for a wee while. Bill McLaren followed the likes of Peter OSullevan, John Arlott, Harry Carpenter and Murray Walker into retirement and a generation of BBC commentators had finally fallen silent. He used to say about my speed, If you blink youd miss him and If you knock a light off he could jump into bed quicker than the light goes off. *And its a try by Hika the hooker from Ngongotaha (Wales v New Zealand 1980). We are the leading rugby union news and content network delivering you the latest news, views and all the moves in Rugby Union. McLarens final commentary in Cardiff eight years ago the 2002 Six Nations clash between Wales and Scotland saw the Millennium Stadium crowd sing For Hes a Jolly Good Fellow in his honour. sidestep 3 men in a phonebox? You can use our stories in a structured programme. Victor Ubogo who was capped for England 24 times between 1992 and 1999. [2] He coached several Hawick youngsters who went on to play for Scotland, including Jim Renwick, Colin Deans and Tony Stanger. The one-time captain of Wales was the natural heir of the "voice of rugby", Bill. Known as 'the voice of rugby', he retired from commentating in 2002. Scottish rugby union player, sports broadcaster & journalist, Scottish rugby commentators and journalists, "Tributes paid to woman behind Hawick's voice of rugby, Bill McLaren, after his widow Bette dies at 93", Vale Bill McLaren, we'll never see your like again, "Book review: Rugby's Greatest Heroes And Entertainers, by Bill McLaren", Bill McLaren: Scotland's legendary voice of rugby mourned across world The Scotsman, "Bill McLaren, the 'voice of rugby', dies aged 86", "Hundreds gather for funeral of Bill McLaren, the voice of rugby", "Characters from centre stage gather again to say last farewell to Bill McLaren", "Thousands gather at Murrayfield to pay tribute to Bill McLaren 'the voice of rugby', "Bill McLaren statue to be unveiled at Murrayfield", "Scottish Rugby Hall of Fame Inductees 2010", "Legends inducted into World Rugby Hall of Fame at Rugby World Cup 2015", Bill McLaren: Legendary 'Voice of Rugby' was a family man above all, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bill_McLaren&oldid=1124949584, Commanders of the Order of the British Empire, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Sports commentating, sports journalism, rugby player, This page was last edited on 1 December 2022, at 11:21. Some of his finest broadcasting work came in the form of montages and voiceovers during the London Olympics of 2012. Aidan Smith's Saturday Interview: Welsh wizard John Taylor on one of rugby's great contests, Bill McLaren, standing against apartheid and his worry that Scotland are "building something". A hod carrier is someone who works on a building site and carries a pile of bricks on something that looks like a shovel. Prosser realised that Butler, with his analytical, calmer approach to the game, could bring something extra to his side, and by 1979 the great Wales coach Carwyn Jones was canvassing for the 21-year-old Butler to be captain of the Wales B team. It doesnt have to be someone who actually heard Bill. He was particularly renowned for his place kicking which won plenty of games for his country. He was capped 15 times for the All Blacks between 1972 and 1977. When Paul Thorburn kicked a record-breaking penalty from 64.2m against Scotland in 1986, it left legendary commentator Bill McLaren to utter the immortal words: "I've seen all the greatest goal kickers in the last decade, but I . He merely points out that the two brothers were well-fed! You'll see why. Arguably the greatest sports commentator ever, certainly the greatest rugby commentator, Bill McLaren, known as The Voice Of Rugby believed passionately in sport and sportsmanship. "It was full of books, newspaper cuttings, magazines and videos - there were three piles of videos from floor to ceiling. The WRU said it will remember Bill McLaren at the Wales v Scotland match at the Millennium Stadium on February 13, though it had yet to decide how. As well as building a replica of the famous Murrayfield scoreboard that sat above the East terrace, the exhibition will allow visitors to sit inside the original commentary gantry from the national stadium. McLaren began as a junior reporter with the Hawick Express and made his national debut for BBC radio in 1953, when Scotland were beaten 12-0 by Wales. However, he said it was fair to describe the room as "chaotic" and added: "It was an absolute tip. Murray Watson is going through Bill's vast archive ahead of this autumn's exhibition. He was capped 61 times from 1990 to 2000. Something went wrong, please try again later. If there was violence, itwas never anything more than "brief shenanigans", and nobody ever kicked a ball badly, but merely made it look abit like one of Bill's own "scruffy nineirons". As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. McLaren would have chuckled at that notion, but the love of rugby in Wales was something he always compared to his native Scottish border country. New Zealand radio . But McLaren was delighted and provided his listening audience with helpful commentary as to what was going on. McLaren is describing the kicker action. His grammar school-educated father, Kenneth, was a research chemist who played amateur football for Wycombe Wanderers and three times for English representative sides as an inside-forward. The prop blithely stepped out of his breeks and bent over to put on the pristine pair. Let's see if you can match the quote to the player or coach! Matt Williams. Here is McLaren watching a lock forward making a break up the field. (McLaren offering a friend a mint). Known as 'the voice of rugby', he retired from commentating in 2002. The Late Great Bill McLaren did! The disease nearly killed him and forced him to give up playing. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. His smaller brother Scott was three inches shorter but with a similar frame. Here is McLarens view of the diminutive winger: Despite Battys stature, he was known for being hard as nails. I was certain I would be next. However, this is nothing new. This is unusual (Australias John Eales is the only other one I can think of). BILL McLaren will be remembered simply as the voice of rugby. He was particularly offended by a piece in the Western Mail, a paper with little love for Pontypool, comparing him unfavourably with the French captain Jean-Pierre Rives, the warrior flanker with his blood-stained shirt. Bill Beaumont played in the second row for England 34 times between 1975 and 1982. "Give me a wee tug on the sleeve, son, if you want to come in." On Phil Bennett: "They say down at Stradey that if ever you catch him [Phil Bennett] you get to make a wish." The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Here is where I disagree with the great commentator. Breeks are breeches. He has two famous sons-in-law, Linda married former Scotland rugby scrum half Alan Lawson and Janie married horse racing commentator Derek Thompson. This refers to Scottish fullback Gavin Hastings. He loved it when he got abuse from the terraces. Phill Bennetts club was Llanelli (part of which would morph into the Scarlets in the professional era). You can probably tell that McLaren wasnt too impressed with Browns kicking style! It simply did not matter. (a) Send us any Bill McLaren quotes you recall (add them below in the Leave a Reply box at the very end of other comments) and/or, (b) Tell us what Bills commentaries meant to you (add them below in the Leave a Reply box at the very end of other comments) and/or. Renwick was also a placekicker, although not the usual first-choice kicker for his country. *Would ye like a Hawick ball, son ? "For the exhibition we will put everything back to where it was left.". It is not being overly melancholic to say that the Six Nations Championship has never seemed quite the same since McLaren retired.

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