bill mclaren on welsh rugby

A Facebook group, backed by over 6,000 members, was campaigning to gain a knighthood for McLaren. This refers to Jim Renwick, a Scottish center who was capped 52 times for Scotland (from 1972 to 84). I just love this quote. No, coo isnt a typo. Hes up there with great commentators like John Arlott [cricket], Henry Longhurst [golf], Dan Maskell [tennis] and Peter Alliss [golf].. Derek Quinnell played for Wales but this quote refers to two of his sons. Perhaps Gibbs most famous try for his country was the one that secured a Grand Slam against England in 1999. Which brings us to the next quote. In all he spent 19 months in hospital battling the condition and recalled crying myself to sleep each night as they took away my friends who had died that day. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? 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. From giant winger to tiny wingerGrant Batty was only 55. The legendary fullback was capped 61 times between 1986 and 1995. He played golf every day, come hail or shine, with his wife, Bette, whom he met at a local hop in 1947. Last weeks 15 Quotes from Bill covered Celebrations, Fisticuffs, Tough Guys & some Big Boys. McLaren, now in his 86th year, lives quietly at his home in Hawick, in the beautiful Scottish borders. 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Llanelli were one of the 11 founding clubs of the WRU in 1881 and one of the most famous names in world club rugby, producing legends such as Phil Bennett, Ray Gravell, Delme Thomas and Ieuan Evans. (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. *Tweet, tweet, tweet commentary on Scottish full-back Peter Dods strange run up to a penalty kick. Brilliant Jasen Id forgotten did ye notice? which was such a great way of grabbing your attention and generating the option for something trivial or intriguing. add Bill McLaren to 'my astro' Biography Scottish rugby union commentator, teacher, journalist and one time rugby union player. Heres another interesting fact about Finlay. When he hits you, you think the roof has just fallen in. It is not being overly melancholic to say that the Six Nations Championship has never seemed quite the same since McLaren retired. Bill McLaren, who died on January 19 aged 86, was to millions of sports fans "the voice of rugby", bringing wit, erudition and style to hundreds of commentaries on BBC radio and television in a. He was known as The Voice Of Rugby. Dont forget, firstly, theres lots of rugby stories (scroll down the right hand side to see rugby in the categories) and secondly, there are 4 separate posts containing Bills Quotes. "Give me a wee tug on the sleeve, son, if you want to come in." 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. Ive put the quote in the Scottish section because of the burn reference. In this title, Bill McLaren talks poignantly about his entire life, focusing on his 50 years as chief rugby commentator for the BBC. *Would ye like a Hawick ball, son ? There is another more coarse use of the term laying bricks which could also apply at the sight of Lomu charging towards you. How well will you do? In November 2001, McLaren became the first non-international to be inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame. Bill Beaumont played in the second row for England 34 times between 1975 and 1982. He became a columnist and journalist who was not. He decided to leave well alone, since it seemed to improve his grip on his clubs. The experience would later colour Butlers journalism in print particularly he was sympathetic to the players plying their rough trade. They were coached by the fierce disciplinarian Ray Prosser, but Eddie the varsity youth, with his cultured tones and inevitable nickname Bamber, after the University Challenge presenter, fitted in with Pontypools ethos. I think the jink is dying in modern rugby certainly the Welsh are trying to keep it alive lets hope its never lost. You'll see why. Explore in 3D: The dazzling crown that makes a king. Ive still got the fictional reports I used to write when I was a wee boy of seven or eight. Murray added: "Bill was like the Wikipedia of rugby, long before there was Wikipedia. This refers to Wade Dooley who was a policeman who walked the beat in the seaside town of Blackpool. Edward Thomas Butler, rugby player and sports journalist, born 8 May 1957; died 15 September 2022, Rugby player who won 16 caps for Wales and went on to become an Observer journalist and a leading commentator for the BBC, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, 2023 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. He would then resume his consultation of his match chart, a mass of tiny notes in many colours, before, at kick-off, turning his back on us. I think it might be easier to tackle a snooker table than Lomu. He stood 66 and carried a huge frame. He loved the characters in the game. Former Welsh scrum-half Brynmor Williams said though he often found himself playing second fiddle to Gareth Edwards, Mclaren made him feel like an integral part of the Welsh set-up in the 1970s. The disease nearly killed him and forced him to give up playing. Lets just say that like all the best props, Ubugo had a substantial posterior. Jones, who also now works as a commentator, said: He defined rugby for generations with his commentary and he was such a hard working man because the preparation he put in set the standard for everyone who followed him.. I almost didnt include this one because I dont know which player its about. Siege Gun a gem. Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in, Please refresh your browser to be logged in, Classic phrases from commentator Bill McLaren, Up to 30% off + free delivery with Nike promo codes for members, 20% off selected orders with this Footasylum discount code, 20% off your order - New Balance discount code, Extra 15% selected orders 80+ with this Go Outdoors discount code, 20% off everything with this Sweaty Betty discount code, Compare broadband packages side by side to find the best deal for you, Compare cheap broadband deals from providers with fastest speed in your area, All you need to know about fibre broadband, Best Apple iPhone Deals in the UK April 2023, Compare iPhone contract deals and get the best offer this April, Compare the best mobile phone deals from the top networks and brands. [2] He switched to television commentary six years later. Butler. Not just a Scottish rugby legend, Bill McLaren is widely regarded as one of the greatest sports broadcasters of all time. I reckon thats why there are so many metatarsal injuries since many boots particularly football boots are so thin they offer no protection whatsoever. Three ofthe five died. Younger rugby lovers marvel at Bills turn of phrase, his sense of sportsmanship and camaraderie and if you listen to Bills actual voice in the audio clip in the first post, they get a feel for the sheer excitement created when you hear his unique voice the voice of rugby as the late great Bill McLaren was called. The late Graeme Moody was a widely respected radio rugby commentator for 35 years. Then two through Janie: former Edinburgh and Scotland 7s player Jim Thompson and other son Alex. Known as 'the voice of rugby', he retired from commentating in 2002. This is unusual (Australias John Eales is the only other one I can think of). After their divorce, he married Susan Roberts, with whom he had a further three children, Jacob, Nell and Seth. [2] McLaren was one of many post-war commentators who progressed from commentating on BBC Radio to BBC Television during the infancy of television broadcasting in the UK. There must have been something inside me that wanted to describe rugby football to people, he once said. When he hits you, you think the roof has just fallen in. Renowned throughout the sport, his enthusiasm and a memorable turn of phrase endeared him to all rugby fans. Butler later became a published author. Let's see if you can match the quote to the player or coach! Loading interface. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Comments. Throughout his distinguished career he earned . [3] Early life [ edit] New Zealand radio . He loved it when he got abuse from the terraces. That teammate was Scott Quinnell. 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. Windsor said: The biggest fear with him was when he finishes how do we replace him? [2] He would later play for Hawick RFC. Scotland always won. The image would haunt him for the rest of his days. McLaren also featured as a commentator on the video games Jonah Lomu Rugby and EA Rugby 2001, and also did voice work for Telewest Communications. William Pollock McLaren CBE (16 October 1923 - 19 January 2010) was a Scottish rugby union commentator, teacher, journalist and one time rugby player. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. *That one was a bit inebriated just like one of my golf shots (description of a missed goal kick). "We have now resurrected all of the furniture that was in there, things like the desk, the chair, the shelves, the typewriter and even the empty Hawick Balls tins he used for pens and paperclips. 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. Bill McLaren followed the likes of Peter O'Sullevan, John Arlott, Harry Carpenter and Murray Walker into retirement and a generation of BBC commentators had finally fallen silent. But he was broad-shouldered and had a big physical presence. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies. The late great, Bill McLaren was simply the world's best rugby commentator ever. On Phil Bennett: "They say down at Stradey that if ever you catch him [Phil Bennett] you get to make a wish." A recreation of the office will act as a centrepiece of an exhibition to celebrate Bill's centenary. The camera chose to focus on his rear at this moment. At least the table doesnt bend and lean forward to crash through you. The switch to television came six years later, and it was throughout the following four decades and more that McLaren came to be seen as the foremost authority in rugby commentary. His sidestep was marvelous, like a shaft of lightning. Three of his grandchildren went on to play rugby, with Rory Lawson and Jim Thompson both current professionals. There was also an internet campaign last year to give McLaren, from Hawick in the Scottish Borders, a knighthood for his work. Butler became a published author in 2014. The quote comes from McLaren watching Hastings preparation before a place kick. 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Murray, who is a volunteer with the BMF, said: "Bill was enormously thorough in his preparations with his commentaries and for his writing - and he did all of his research in a time long before Google.". (modern), Bill McLaren in 2002, the year of his retirement Photograph: Huw John / Rex Features. One day, drawn by the smell ofdecay to a village cemetery, he rounded a corner and was confronted by a mound of 1,500 corpses. Nicknamed the Viet Gwent, they notoriously took no prisoners with their hard-nosed pack of forwards, spearheaded by the Wales front row of Charlie Faulkner, Bobby Windsor and Graham Price. He was also very fast. During his final commentary, Wales v Scotland in 2002, the crowd sang "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow"[8] and one Welsh supporter displayed a banner claiming "Bill McLaren is Welsh". Professional rugby has not always been kind to the romantics. And what about Stradey? The great man from Hawick thrilled both radio and television listeners for almost half a century as a national broadcaster before retiring back in 2002. Some commentators will quickly blabber something innocuous to draw attention away from the incident. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. He was capped 15 times for the All Blacks between 1972 and 1977. He didnt always get his place on the Welsh team but he toured twice with the British and Irish Lions and captained the 1977 tour to New Zealand. When they get going, its like watching cattle stampede, huge fellows who thunder about the paddock like mad rhinos. Heres a quote that probably needs a translation for a non-Scottish audience: He hoists his breeks, does a little shammy shammy. I suppose somebody had to be alongside him, to offer the odd jarring note, but once the game and Bill were in full flow, they were best left to themselves. But McLaren was delighted and provided his listening audience with helpful commentary as to what was going on. Bill Mclaren Quotes Part 3 about Runners (& jinkers); Passing; Kicking and Lineout Jumping (15 x Quotes), Bill Mclaren Quotes Part 4 Line-Out jumping (continued), Weather Conditions, Classic Mclaren, Looking Back (15 x Quotes). He was known for sidestepping opponents to leave them floundering in his wake. Here is McLaren on two sturdy brothers who were giants of Welsh rugby in more ways than one. But for those who loved McLarens sayings and laughed at the descriptions he dreamt up of the competitors, here are a few famous phrases from the Bill McLaren rugby commentary scrapbook, spoken both on and off air *Its high enough, its long enough AND ITS STRAIGHT ENOUGH. He served with the Royal Artillery in Italy during the Second World War,[2] including the Battle of Monte Cassino. Ive already described Doddie Weir in the previous quote. William Henry Thomas, the forgotten Welsh Hero of 1888 by @Wil94831317Bill April 23 2023 marks 135 years . Matt Williams. Something went wrong, please try again later. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. But his impartiality was never questioned. Wed have a little side bet of a sixpence on who would win the match and he would inevitably send a sixpence in the post for me a couple of days later.. Heres a list of great McLaren quotes without any commentary. Bill McLaren was a legendary commentator on rugby matches. 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. The Quinnell name is famous in Welsh rugby. Stradey Park was the home ground for Llanelli RFC. My proof is McLarens commentary his shimmy shammy is a perfect description of those twitches. And given the stamp he put on so many of Wales most glorious post-war rugby moments, McLaren may well be missed almost as much in Wales as he will be in Scotland, not to mention the world over. Read about our approach to external linking. He was just a lovely, lovely man and I was privileged to have worked with him and more importantly to have met him.. With reference to Moss Keane prime Irish beef? @Rich am not sure could be Jones, or @Brendan could be Phil Bennet or Gerald Davies who could also jink. McLaren, from Hawick in the Borders, was known as the "voice of rugby" and died . The celebration, which will be held initially during October and November, will also feature items from his family life, his years as a PE teacher, where he introduced the likes of Jim Renwick, Colin Deans and Tony Stanger to the game of rugby, and also the 18 months he spent on an isolation wing after contracting tuberculosis. His charging runs may be what Maclaren is referring to in the quote.

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