Im a little unsure on how to unpack this quote. In other words, the first part refers to Hasting pulling up his shorts. The beloved commentator sadly passed away in 2010 but his legacy will live on forever. 60 Of The Best - Great Quotes from Bill McLaren (part 1 of 4 No one will ever evoke the spirit of Rugby like Bill. Known as 'the voice of rugby', he retired from commentating in 2002. Something went wrong, please try again later. Well, no dancing in the streets of Hawick tonight but Scotland were unlucky to lose by a 14 pt margin. Here is McLaren watching a young Beaumont packing down: And theres Beaumont in that English scrum looking like a man who enjoys his food. You can use our stories in a structured programme. A burn is a stream i.e. It simply did not matter. *And its a try by Hika the hooker from Ngongotaha (Wales v New Zealand 1980). At the East Fortune sanatorium inEast Lothian, he was selected as one offive patients to take part in trials for anew antibiotic, streptomycin. I worked with him for a decade, one ofhis many "second voices". It was said that Bill McLaren, whohas died aged 86, was the voice ofrugby. They both go up like two pieces of white bread in a pop-up toaster. The Quinnell name is famous in Welsh rugby. Eddie Butler (rugby union) - Wikipedia William Pollock McLaren CBE (16 October 1923 19 January 2010) was a Scottish rugby union commentator, teacher, journalist and one time rugby player. He was educated at Monmouth School and Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, where he studied French and Spanish between 1976 and 1978.Butler played as a number eight and gained Cambridge Blues in 1976, 1977 and 1978, Butler played in 16 matches for the Welsh national side between 1980 and 1984 and captained the side in six of those matches. Regarding He could sidestep 3 men in a telephone box would this be a welsh wizard, Barry John? The BBC also wheeled Butler out when big, multi-sport events were taking place, his seemingly effortless bardic style bringing them to life. Monmouth, though, knew they had a real talent long before their pupil went to Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, to read French and Spanish (1976-79). Until his retirement in 2002, he was known as 'the voice of rugby'. He was renowned for his turns of phrase. Rugby greats from past and present gathered at Murrayfield last night to remember veteran commentator Bill McLaren. Eddie went to Monmouth school, on the border of England and Wales, an institution reluctant to select players for Wales school sides. In November 2001, McLaren became the first non-international to be inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame. He was awarded an MBE in 1992, an OBE in 1995 and a CBE in the 2003 honours list. All rights reserved. Barry John, yes, maybe. 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. (modern), Bill McLaren in 2002, the year of his retirement Photograph: Huw John / Rex Features. I was fortunate enough to be playing at a time when he was at his peak and if you watched a match and he wasnt commentating it wasnt the same.. His unique contribution to the commentators art has been applauded by both his peers and listeners alike the world over.. But this quote always comes back to me when a tall and ungainly youngster breaks free. News, views and all the moves in the world of Rugby Union, On Phil Bennett:They say down at Stradey that if ever you catch him [Phil Bennett] you get to make a wish., On Jonah Lomu:Im no hod carrier but I would be laying bricks if he [Jonah L] was running at me., On Grant Batty:He plays like a runaway bullet., On Gerald Davies:His sidestep was marvellous like a shaft of lightning., Its high enough, its long enough AND ITS STRAIGHT ENOUGH.. McLaren, now in his 86th year, lives quietly at his home in Hawick, in the beautiful Scottish borders. He was just a lovely, lovely man and I was privileged to have worked with him and more importantly to have met him.. His smaller brother Scott was three inches shorter but with a similar frame. Butler later became a published author. Over the. Pity they couldnt get over for that second try. Among the personal highlights of his career were the commentary for Scotlands Grand Slam victory over England at Murrayfield in 1990. McLarens final commentary was the game between Wales and Scotland at the Millennium Stadium in 2002, when the crowd sang For Hes a Jolly Good Fellow and one Welsh supporter displayed a banner claiming Bill McLaren is Welsh. There must have been something inside me that wanted to describe rugby football to people, he once said. *My goodness, that wee balls gone so high therell be snow on it when it comes down. About Bill McLaren: Scottish rugby union player (1923 - 2010 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. From next spring, the Bill McLaren 100 exhibition will share Hawick Museum with a display charting Hawick Rugby Club's 150 years. [3] Early life [ edit] But McLaren was clearly of the opinion that the lock was well-nourished! They beat the world once by 70-3.. He hit opposition players and rucks with equal aggression. Later this year the foundation will host a major exhibition to celebrate the centenary of Bill's birth on 16 October 1923. The 58-year-old, who works as a commentator for S4C, said: He was wonderful to me in the sense that I was on the bench for Gareth all that time, but he made me feel just as important as if Id been playing. McLaren was married to Bette, with whom he had two daughters Linda (born 1952) and Janie (born 1954, died 2000). He toured with the Lions in 1977 to South Africa. It was Bennett who ran out of his own 22, side-stepping a string of All Blacks and starting the move that led to a try at the other end of the pitch. At least the table doesnt bend and lean forward to crash through you. Ubogo was a burly prop who could shift around the field. Our previous quotes have generally referred to a single individual. 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. Bill McLaren Rugby Quotes (With Explanations) - Rugby Dome Bill believed in sportsmanship - shaking hands, thanking the ref, respect, fun and, of course, competition. Explore in 3D: The dazzling crown that makes a king. Here is McLaren on one of the greatest players in the history of the sport: I look at Colin Meads and see a great big sheep farmer who carried the ball in his hands as though it was an orange pip. was described as being like a siege gun.., I recall that Bill M often used the phrase now did ye notice.. when he was getting comment from Beaumont and referred to modern rugby boots as carpet slippers .Brings back such fond memories of watching 5 nations as it was then with my old man..priceless. When Bill McLaren helped Scotland enjoy the sweetest of victories "And he was loved for his knowledge as well as his humour. Renwick was also a placekicker, although not the usual first-choice kicker for his country. Having memorised the names, he then liked to watch the players in training, listening to them. Matt Williams: Warren Gatland factor makes Wales a real threat to Rugby lost its true voice on Tuesday when much-loved and respected Scottish commentator Bill McLaren passed away at the age of 86. There was an incident in a match where Ubogos shorts were ripped down the side. *Hes like a raging bull with a bad head. *I look at Colin Meads and see a great big sheep farmer who carried the ball in his hands as though it was an orange pip. The legendary fullback was capped 61 times between 1986 and 1995. He was capped 61 times from 1990 to 2000. Butler was born on 8 May 1957. 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Become an ambassador (looks good on your CV). Bill McLaren - The Telegraph Bill McLaren - Scotland On Air Warren Gatland: has never forgiven Irish rugby after he was removed as Irish coach two decades ago. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. Orwhen some of his former pupils, suchas Jim Renwick, Colin Deans orTony Stanger, scored for Scotland. The quote comes from McLaren watching Hastings preparation before a place kick. 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. Butler became a published author in 2014. He played in the second row and captained New Zealand eleven times. When he was discharged, he supplemented his work as a PE teacher with rugby reports for the Hawick Express, and was recommended from there to the BBC, joining the corporation in 1953. 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. 1953 was his first appearance on national radio and he went on . William Henry Thomas, the forgotten Welsh Hero of 1888 by @Wil94831317Bill April 23 2023 marks 135 years . [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. He was capped 15 times for the All Blacks between 1972 and 1977. 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. Hence the description of the run-away giraffe. Oct 20 Celebrate what would have been Bill's 100th year with fantastic company & storytelling from @JiffyRugby & @MrAndrewCotter, plus special guests! "For the exhibition we will put everything back to where it was left.". [2] He coached several Hawick youngsters who went on to play for Scotland, including Jim Renwick, Colin Deans and Tony Stanger. He was known for sidestepping opponents to leave them floundering in his wake. With one of his daughters, Nell, he was raising money for prostate cancer on the hike to Machu Picchu. A Facebook group, backed by over 6,000 members, was campaigning to gain a knighthood for McLaren. During a career with the BBC which spanned almost 50 years, McLaren became the most famous and respected commentator in the game. 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 . In November 2001, McLaren became the first non-international to be inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame. Susan and his children survive him. This refers to Scottish fullback Gavin Hastings. Photograph: David Rogers/Getty Images. Some of his finest broadcasting work came in the form of montages and voiceovers during the London Olympics of 2012. Among those to speak were McLaren's grandson Rory Lawson who competed for Scotland in the Calcutta Cup two days later. [9], In later life, McLaren contracted Alzheimer's; he had been renowned for his excellent memory.[10]. McLaren, from Hawick in the Borders, was known as the "voice of rugby" and died . The Late Great Bill McLaren did! Big Victor Ubogu had his shorts ripped to shreds in a frantic ruck and as he bent down to change them right in front of the camera his big behind came into view, Bills dulcet tones rang out A splendid rear-view there! The whole pub erupted with laughter. This video contains content from Six Nations Rugby, who has blocked it in your country on copyright grounds Bill McLaren's 'Best Bits' - Highlights from the Voice of Rugby Bill McLaren. After captaining Pontypool between 1982 and 1985, Butler had a brief spell as a press and publicity officer at Radio Wales before beginning a career in newspaper journalism with the shortlived Sunday Correspondent (1989-90) and later the Observer and Guardian, before also returning to the BBC as a journalist. Professional rugby has not always been kind to the romantics. Bennett had also played against New Zealand for the Barbarians in 1973. 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. Sidestep in a phonebox was referring to Robert Jones (Welsh scrum half). There was no audio, but you didnt need to speak Scots to lip-read that he was saying something that rhymed with rucking hell. From giant winger to tiny wingerGrant Batty was only 55. McLaren would have chuckled at that notion, but the love of rugby in Wales was something he always . Here is McLarens summary: Im sure youre familiar with Bambi, the baby deer with gangly legs. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. A tribute to Bill McLaren | PlanetRugby : PlanetRugby Bill Mclaren would never be so uncouth. That teammate was Scott Quinnell. Phill Bennetts club was Llanelli (part of which would morph into the Scarlets in the professional era). on Twitter: "New on @Playing_Pasts I was desperately ill and fading fast when the specialist asked five of us to be guinea pigs for a new drug called Streptomycin, McLaren said in 2001. But it was from the table-tennis commentary that the desire to call the shots on rugby union came. Sandy Ryan captured the vacant WBO welterweight title as she secured a wide points win over Marie Pier Houle. During the exhibition at Hawick Museum, thousands of previously unseen artefacts and photographs will help tell Bill's story from his early years, through his playing career and into his military service during World War Two. He particularly enjoyed having the Sunday pulpit to himself at the Observer rather than the daily grind at the Guardian. Now think of those gangly steps when under the influence of a particular illegal substance! He was particularly renowned for his place kicking which won plenty of games for his country. The prop blithely stepped out of his breeks and bent over to put on the pristine pair. No matter what it was you couldnt wait to hear what he had to say whenever he said that! The couple famously used to play 18 holes of golf together every day. His voice was instantly recognisable, and generations of rugby fans grew up listening to a man they believed to be fair, knowledgeable, and a lover of the game. But McLaren was delighted and provided his listening audience with helpful commentary as to what was going on. William Pollock McLaren, teacher and rugby commentator, born 16 October 1923; died 19 January 2010, BBC sports commentator and 'the voice of rugby union' for nearly 50 years, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, 2023 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. Gerald Davies was capped for Wales as a centre in 1966. I was certain I would be next. *He plays like a runaway bullet (description of New Zealand wing Grant Batty). Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Tell a coach or teacher. This refers to Jim Renwick, a Scottish center who was capped 52 times for Scotland (from 1972 to 84). See also my TEDx Talk: How Sportsmanship Can Change The World. Boyce, 65, said: I cant think of anyone in rugby football who was more loved and more respected than Bill McLaren. Craig in particular used to laugh to himself as opposition crowds (usually English) yelled down to him that he was fat. But the twins never played on the same Scotland team! Butler, who has died in his sleep at the age of 65 during a walking expedition for charity in Peru, was universally admired in the worlds of rugby and journalism. 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All rights reserved. McLaren lived in Hawick with wife Bette, who he met on a blind date at in the towns hall in 1947. When they get going, its like watching cattle stampede, huge fellows who thunder about the paddock like mad rhinos. Television now rules the rugby broadcaster, but there are still some superb radio commentators. Perhaps it was the . His unique descriptions and authoritive voice added so much excitement, intrigue and enthral. I dont know which big man won the ball. WRU chairman and former Wales captain David Pickering called him a legendary broadcaster and a thorough professional.
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