I dont remember Beaumont as being particularly large. Hes up there with great commentators like John Arlott [cricket], Henry Longhurst [golf], Dan Maskell [tennis] and Peter Alliss [golf].. Read about our approach to external linking. His voice was almost operatic in its clarity and range as he described his son-in-law Alan Lawson scoring against England in 1976, when he managed to convey the excitement of the moment without bias, as only he could. Historians in Hawick are working through thousands of books, videos and clippings in a bid to recreate Bill McLaren's "chaotic" research room. William Pollock Bill McLaren, CBE (16 October 1923 19 January 2010) was a Scottish rugby union commentator, teacher, journalist and one time rugby player. So I think the wall is the correct interpretation. The Bill McLaren Foundation, a charity which exists to develop and promote rugby union and sporting opportunities, was launched at Murrayfield Stadium on 4 March 2010. In this case, McLaren is referring to the entire Springbok pack. Bill played for Combined Services XV in Italy in 1946, Hawick High School XV in 1937 with Bill McLaren, second from right on back row, The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure. It is not. But by the time his international career was over in 1984, the No 8 had become slightly disillusioned with life in the goldfish-bowl of Welsh rugby. McLaren was named among the inaugural members of the Scottish Rugby Hall of Fame in 2010 and inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame during Rugby World Cup 2015.[16][17][18]. Im no hod-carrier but I would be laying bricks if he was running at me. 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I almost didnt include this one because I dont know which player its about. 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McLaren had wanted to stay at her bedside but she insisted he go and carry out a commentating duty in Edinburgh on the Saturday afternoon. 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. 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. In the Cambridge team, Butler brought a physical edge to a pack coached by the former Scotland international Ian Robertson, who was also to become a well-known rugby voice on the BBC. *The All Blacks that day looked like great prophets of doom. Here is McLaren on Scott Gibbs, a burly Welsh center who switched successfully between rugby league and rugby union. A banner was also held up by one of the Cardiff crowd proclaiming: Bill McLaren is Welsh. Bill Mclaren Quotes Part 1 includes quotes about Celebrations; Fisticuffs; Tough Guys; Big Guys and also a beautiful piece written by Bills daughter, Linda, specifically for us. You will be inspired! ), 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.. I reckon thats why there are so many metatarsal injuries since many boots particularly football boots are so thin they offer no protection whatsoever. No matter what it was you couldnt wait to hear what he had to say whenever he said that! By 1980 Butler had won his first cap in the defeat of France in Cardiff. Definitely one of the Welsh greats from that era think Id go for Gareth Edwards, Gerald Davies or the phenomenal Phil Bennett. 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. Former Welsh international turned pundit and broadcaster Jonathan Davies, 47, was McLarens co-commentator for his final game and said he had grown up listening to McLaren before working alongside him. think of a trout leaping up a stream. The proud scot also liked to use Scottish phrasing which sometimes needs interpretation for the rest of us. On Victor Ubogus behind England v South Africa. Stradey is a location in the middle of the town of Llanelli. He decided to leave well alone, since it seemed to improve his grip on his clubs. Hes not a man you could hide in a lineout! See less. This refers to Wade Dooley who was a policeman who walked the beat in the seaside town of Blackpool. [2] Renowned throughout the sport, his enthusiasm and memorable turn of phrase endeared him to many.[3]. Dinner plates cant clasp a ball. Mark Andrews played 77 tests at lock for South Africa from 1994 to 2002. It was nothing personal. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. My proof is McLarens commentary his shimmy shammy is a perfect description of those twitches. But McLaren was delighted and provided his listening audience with helpful commentary as to what was going on. Tell a coach or teacher. 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. See also my TEDx Talk: How Sportsmanship Can Change The World. 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. Sadly, McLaren, known as 'the voice of rugby' for his brilliant BBC commentaries, had died earlier in the year, but the visit to the Border town rekindled memories of Lawson's youth and gave him the subject matter to lift his side ahead of an encounter against the world champion Springboks. [5] While in the hospital, he began his broadcasting career, by commenting on table tennis games on the hospital radio. There was no audio, but you didnt need to speak Scots to lip-read that he was saying something that rhymed with rucking hell. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. But his impartiality was never questioned. For a year short of a full half-century, first on radio and from 1962 on BBC television, Bill's voice washed over rugby union, soothing and harmonious. Heres a list of great McLaren quotes without any commentary. *Tweet, tweet, tweet commentary on Scottish full-back Peter Dods strange run up to a penalty kick. He almost jumped to his left and right without changing speed. Craig in particular used to laugh to himself as opposition crowds (usually English) yelled down to him that he was fat. A look back at the glorious career of the BBC's world-renowned rugby commentator Bill McLaren, who passed away in January 2010 at the age of 86.John Inverdal. Sidestep in a phonebox was referring to Robert Jones (Welsh scrum half). [1] Renowned throughout the sport, his enthusiasm and memorable turn of phrase endeared him to many. Calder also captained the Lions on tour to Australia in 1989. The Late Great Bill McLaren did! Perhaps it was the . However, he said it was fair to describe the room as "chaotic" and added: "It was an absolute tip. Sadly, McLaren, known as 'the voice of rugby' for his brilliant BBC commentaries, had died earlier in the . The late great, Bill McLaren was simply the world's best rugby commentator ever. You got {{SCORE_CORRECT}} out of {{SCORE_TOTAL}}, Five Greatest English Flankers Of All Time, Lock Forwards In Rugby League (Number 13). Meanwhile, scroll down to choose a story categorised by a country or a sport. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. McLaren was born in Hawick, in the Scottish Borders, in 1923 to a knitwear salesman from Loch Lomond-side who had moved down to the area. At least the table doesnt bend and lean forward to crash through you. In this case, the kicker is Peter Brown, who played 27 times for Scotland between 1964 and 73. He was capped for England 57 times between 1985 and 1993. WRU chairman and former Wales captain David Pickering called him a legendary broadcaster and a thorough professional. Brown was a forward who took the place kicks. 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 plays like a runaway bullet (description of New Zealand wing Grant Batty). [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". The experience would later colour Butlers journalism in print particularly he was sympathetic to the players plying their rough trade. He was known as 'The Voice Of Rugby'. They beat the world once by 70-3.. Ubogo was a burly prop who could shift around the field. 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.. Scott had a longer career at the top end of international rugby. Invite us to tell stories in your school or club. 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. It was said that Bill McLaren, whohas died aged 86, was the voice ofrugby. The big Blackpool policeman standing like a lighthouse at the back of the lineout. Bill McClaren Rugby at its Greatest - YouTube Video unavailable 0:00 / 0:31 Video unavailable This video contains content from Six Nations Rugby, who has blocked it in your country on. Victor Ubogo who was capped for England 24 times between 1992 and 1999. Born in Newport, south-east Wales, Butler was a first-generation public schoolboy and a first generation Welshman. (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. He stood 66 and carried a huge frame. It is not being overly melancholic to say that the Six Nations Championship has never seemed quite the same since McLaren retired. VideoThe secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure, LGBT troops take love for Eurovision to front line, Why an Indian comedian is challenging fake news rules. The Yorkshireman, with his permanently peeved tone, and Eddie with an easygoing style which suggested that rugby was not the most important thing in the world, should not have worked, but it did, and the two became great friends over the years. Professional rugby has not always been kind to the romantics. 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. Appointed CBE in 2003, he is survived by Bette and his daughter Linda. But McLaren was clearly of the opinion that the lock was well-nourished! However, Gibbs was also renowned as a hard-tackling machine. All 60 Of The Best quotes are categorised as follows: Celebrations x 1; Fisticuffs x 3; Tough Guys x 5; Big Boys x15; Running x 12; Passing x 1; Kicking x 10; Jumping x 4; Weather x 2; Absolute Classic McLaren x 5; Looking Back x 2 Encouraging students x 1; Sportsmanship x 1. Tell a friend. 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. The late Graeme Moody was a widely respected radio rugby commentator for 35 years. From next spring, the Bill McLaren 100 exhibition will share Hawick Museum with a display charting Hawick Rugby Club's 150 years. Max Boyce whose home village of Glynneath has played annual matches against McLarens hometown of Hawick for more than 56 years called for a minutes silence at Wales Six Nations clash with Scotland at the Millennium Stadium on February 13. With the cameras trained on his face, the Scotsman yelled out his frustration. His voice came to represent rugby in the same way Murray Walkers did motor racing and Peter OSullevans horse racing. There was also an internet campaign last year to give McLaren, from Hawick in the Scottish Borders, a knighthood for his work. Rugby for orchestra and full voice, and nobody made a sound quite like Bill McLaren. His first commentary was made while recovering from TB, describing table tennis matches for the hospital radio. William Pollock McLaren CBE (16 October 1923 19 January 2010) was a Scottish rugby union commentator, teacher, journalist and one time rugby player. Its seven years now since the man with the golden voice finally laid down his famous microphone. In his teenage years, McLaren grew up to be a useful flank forward. *Im no hod carrier but Id be laying bricks if he was running at me (description of Jonah Lomu). Heres a comment about a different placekicker. 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". 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 . But in that same year he contracted tuberculosis, and so began the second fight for his life. Comments. He loved the characters in the game. At the East Fortune sanatorium inEast Lothian, he was selected as one offive patients to take part in trials for anew antibiotic, streptomycin. Three of the others died but I made what amounted to a miracle recovery.. 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. He was capped 61 times from 1990 to 2000. He was known as The Voice Of Rugby. We inspire a new generation with amazing, true, two minute stories about sportsmanship. Geoghegan was one of the best wingers of his generation but had to retire early due to a foot injury. Eddie Butler became the voice of Welsh rugby and a contributor to the Guardian and Observer. McLaren lived in Hawick with wife Bette, who he met on a blind date at in the towns hall in 1947. Which brings us to the next quote. The 62 year old, who has become a well-known commentator since playing, said: I enjoyed having banter with him before every Wales Scotland match. *Those props are as cunning as a bag o weasels. With one of his daughters, Nell, he was raising money for prostate cancer on the hike to Machu Picchu. 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. Scotland always won. 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). Regarding He could sidestep 3 men in a telephone box would this be a welsh wizard, Barry John? He was used as a forward spotter, and on one occasion was confronted by a mound of 1,500 corpses in an Italian churchyard, an unpleasant experience which never left him. See more. Re carpet slippers hes right. 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. [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. Bill believed in sportsmanship shaking hands, thanking the ref, respect, fun and, of course, competition. 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He was unbiased, clear . It hurt him just before his retirement in 2002 that he was once denied access to an Australian training session. It was just that Bill, given the choice of two television monitors, liked to hunch over the one closer to him. Over the following five decades he became one of the most recognisable and favoured voices on radio and television. On Phil Bennett: "They say down at Stradey that if ever you catch him [Phil Bennett] you get to make a wish." [2] Renowned throughout the sport, his enthusiasm and memorable turn of phrase endeared him to many. Meads grew up on a sheep farm and raised his own family on a farm. This refers to the rather large and burly Doddie Weir, an outstanding Scottish lock. Monmouth, though, knew they had a real talent long before their pupil went to Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, to read French and Spanish (1976-79). Some commentators will quickly blabber something innocuous to draw attention away from the incident. The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure. The legendary fullback was capped 61 times between 1986 and 1995. Not just a Scottish rugby legend, Bill McLaren is widely regarded as one of the greatest sports broadcasters of all time. [15], McLaren has continued to be honoured for his legacy in Hawick and in the sport of rugby. 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. The one-time captain of Wales was the natural heir of the voice of rugby, Bill McLaren, with whom he shared the BBC commentary box in his early days as a broadcaster. Photograph: David Rogers/Getty Images. Its like trying to tackle a snooker table. Renowned throughout the sport, his enthusiasm and memorable turn of phra During a career with the BBC which spanned almost 50 years, McLaren became the most famous and respected commentator in the game. This refers to Scottish fullback Gavin Hastings. But it was from the table-tennis commentary that the desire to call the shots on rugby union came. He was just a lovely, lovely man and I was privileged to have worked with him and more importantly to have met him..