bill mclaren on welsh rugby

While he convalesced, he began to commentate on table tennis for hospital radio. It hurt him just before his retirement in 2002 that he was once denied access to an Australian training session. Bill McLaren's career behind the microphone began with BBC radio in 1953. But commanding the most space in the Wilton Park museum will be Bill's vast archive of rugby memorabilia and reports. 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. Its similar to a coo kicking over a milk pail. *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. This refers to Finlay Calder, who won 34 caps for Scotland between 1986 and 1991. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Here is McLaren watching two locks leaping to take the ball in a lineout. [11] His funeral took place on 25 January at Teviot Church in Hawick, followed by a private burial at the town's Wellogate Cemetery after his hearse was applauded through the town of Hawick by hundreds of well-wishers who lined the streets to pay their respects to the "Voice of Rugby". He particularly enjoyed having the Sunday pulpit to himself at the Observer rather than the daily grind at the Guardian. 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. The event combined show reels of some of McLaren's most famous moments and some of McLaren's favourite music including a specially recorded performance of Caledonia by Dougie MacLean and a performance by Ronnie Browne of The Corries. He became more famous once his playing days were over for his work as a broadcaster, journalist and novelist. I used to go with my father to see matches at a very early age, the great Hawick heroes including Willie Welsh, Jock Beattie and Jerry Foster, so I had an all-consuming desire to wear the green jersey of Hawick.[4]. This is considered one of the greatest tries in the history of the sport. In other words, the first part refers to Hasting pulling up his shorts. 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". (modern). The quote comes from McLaren watching Hastings preparation before a place kick. 60 Of The Best - Great Quotes from the late great Bill McLaren (part 2 *He plays like a runaway bullet (description of New Zealand wing Grant Batty). When he hits you, you think the roof has just fallen in. McLaren studied in Aberdeen and taught PE until 1987, coaching three players who went on to star for Scotland: Jim Renwick, Colin Deans and Tony Stanger. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. [5] While in the hospital, he began his broadcasting career, by commenting on table tennis games on the hospital radio. 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. He found the vitriol among supporters and the media in Wales over the top for then amateur sportsmen. Among the personal highlights of his career were the commentary for Scotlands Grand Slam victory over England at Murrayfield in 1990. 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. It was through his junior reporting with the Hawick Express that he launched himself into a career of commentary, making his national debut for BBC radio in 1953, when Scotland were beaten 12-0 by Wales. "It was full of books, newspaper cuttings, magazines and videos - there were three piles of videos from floor to ceiling. Dinner plates cant clasp a ball. I dont care! Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in, Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile. Hes like Bambi on speed. What a description of one of Irelands greatest wingers. ), He could sidestep 3 men in a telephone box, Hes like a demented ferret up a wee drainpipe., On Scotlands towering Doddie Weir running with the ball, like a run-away giraffe., On Irelands Simon Geoghegan, Irish winger Hes like Bambi on speed., On NZs Grant Batty: He plays like a runaway bullet., On SAs Carel Du Plessis the prince of left wings.. Scotland always won. Butler took over from McLaren as the BBCs senior commentator in 2002. After that tour, he switched to playing league but then returned to union. Susan and his children survive him. He was just a lovely, lovely man and I was privileged to have worked with him and more importantly to have met him.. No one will ever evoke the spirit of Rugby like Bill. Butler was born on 8 May 1957. 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". The disease nearly killed him and forced him to give up playing. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. 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. When he hits you, you think the roof has just fallen in. They both go up like two pieces of white bread in a pop-up toaster. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. However, this is nothing new. In his early union career, he toured with the British and Irish Lions to New Zealand aged only 22. 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. 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.. 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. His novel, The Head of Gonzo Davies (2014), featured a rugby-playing supporter of Welsh independence, a thinly veiled autobiographical work about a back-row forward who has played for Wales but returns to his village in the valleys where the street lights have long gone outside the old rugby clubhouse. But he was broad-shouldered and had a big physical presence. He was unbiased, clear . Later this year the foundation will host a major exhibition to celebrate the centenary of Bill's birth on 16 October 1923. Sandy Ryan captured the vacant WBO welterweight title as she secured a wide points win over Marie Pier Houle. Anyone else know for sure who Bill was referring to when he said He could sidestep 3 men in a telephone box ? During a career with the BBC which spanned almost 50 years, McLaren became the most famous and respected commentator in the game. There was also an internet campaign last year to give McLaren, from Hawick in the Scottish Borders, a knighthood for his work. By 1983 he was captaining the Wales side while working as a teacher at Cheltenham college, whose Cotswold stone cloisters were a world away from the slag-black surroundings of Pontypool. As a rugby player, he was, to borrow one of his phrases, a "tearaway flanker", a forward with the Hawick first XV, hugely promising by all accounts and fanatical from the day his father took him to see the New Zealand All Blacks at Mansfield Park, Hawick. Here is McLaren watching a lock forward making a break up the field. Breeks are breeches. [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. 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). There he struck up a partnership with another former Wales international, Jonathan Davies, and an odd-couple relationship with the one-time English hooker Brian Moore. But the twins never played on the same Scotland team! [2] Renowned throughout the sport, his enthusiasm and memorable turn of phrase endeared him to many.[3]. [2] He would later play for Hawick RFC. 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. Born in Newport, south-east Wales, Butler was a first-generation public schoolboy and a first generation Welshman. It troubled him that he was not by her side when she died, but Janie had ordered him to the commentary box. The depth of McLarens research became legendary, and he would spend days watching teams train in the week before a match, and then spend nights practising with his own special packet of cards. This refers to Wade Dooley who was a policeman who walked the beat in the seaside town of Blackpool. He was so effective that he displaced Will Carling from the test team. Regarding He could sidestep 3 men in a telephone box would this be a welsh wizard, Barry John? Fri Feb 3 2023 - 10:29. In the summer break the teenager was introduced to the Pontypool club, a more villagey, earthy Valleys side than the traditional east Wales big clubs, Cardiff and Newport. England was leading with minutes to go, and Gibbs took a pass from his teammate and cut back inside to get over the line. The experience would later colour Butlers journalism in print particularly he was sympathetic to the players plying their rough trade. #WALvENG75: We won't even try and break down this Steve - Facebook Three of the others died but I made what amounted to a miracle recovery.. McLaren is describing the kicker action. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. Scott had a longer career at the top end of international rugby. That feared Welsh team of the seventies won three Grand Slams, with Davies tearing up the wing in each of them. A banner was also held up by one of the Cardiff crowd proclaiming: "Bill McLaren is Welsh". Heres a quote that probably needs a translation for a non-Scottish audience: He hoists his breeks, does a little shammy shammy. Early life and rugby career. In November 2001, McLaren became the first non-international to be inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame. 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. If youre not familiar with Celtic culture theres a notion that if you catch a tiny magical creature, it will grant you a wish. He was capped 15 times for the All Blacks between 1972 and 1977. A burn is a stream i.e. Here is McLarens view of the diminutive winger: Despite Battys stature, he was known for being hard as nails. 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. There was no audio, but you didnt need to speak Scots to lip-read that he was saying something that rhymed with rucking hell. [2], Recognition of his services came in November 2001, when he became the first non-international to be inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame. Here is where I disagree with the great commentator. Bill McLaren - Wikipedia Barry John, yes, maybe. [5][6], He played in a Scotland trial in 1947 and was on the verge of a full international cap before contracting tuberculosis. This is what McLaren had to say about Phil Bennett, the great Welsh flyhalf. Bill McLaren - The Telegraph It doesnt have to be someone who actually heard Bill. He was awarded an MBE in 1992, an OBE in 1995 and a CBE in the 2003 honours list. He was renowned for his jerky sidestep that he executed at high speed. These included Murray Walker (motor racing/Formula One), Peter O'Sullevan (horse racing), Harry Carpenter (boxing and rowing), Dan Maskell (tennis), David Coleman (athletics), Peter Alliss (golf) and John Arlott (cricket). McLaren died on 19 January 2010 at the age of 86 in his home town of Hawick. Boyce, 65, said: I cant think of anyone in rugby football who was more loved and more respected than Bill McLaren. 138KG of prime South African beef referring to the Springboks heaviest player ever, Flippie van der Merwe. During his final commentary, Wales v Scotland in 2002, the crowd sang "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow" and one Welsh supporter displayed a banner claiming "Bill McLaren is Welsh". 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