Bill McLaren - R.I.P.

Riskymove

Bill McLaren, known as the "voice of rugby", has died
Commentator Bill McLaren, known popularly as the "voice of
rugby" has died at the age of 86.
Mr McLaren, from Hawick, retired in 2002 and received an OBE,
CBE and MBE for services to the sport.
He began commentating even before his 10th birthday by
copying the voices he heard on the radio.
He went on to earn the respect of players, fans, and spectators
by being the best-researched commentator rugby had ever seen.

Stev_o

BBC wrote:

Voice of rugby Bill McLaren dies
Bill McLaren
Bill McLaren, known as the "voice of rugby", has died

Commentator Bill McLaren, known popularly as the "voice of rugby" has died at the age of 86.

Mr McLaren, from Hawick, retired in 2002 and received an OBE, CBE and MBE for services to the sport.

He began commentating even before his 10th birthday by copying the voices he heard on the radio.

He went on to earn the respect of players, fans, and spectators by being the best-researched commentator rugby had ever seen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S617AieOPJo

Very very sad loss to the rugby community.

stephen_n

Defenitely the voice of rugby, best commentator I have heard! RIP

Webbs

A sad day, grew up watching rugby in the 70's and 80's and he just epitomised Rugby.
A true professional commentator one that many of todays commentators should take a listen too and see how a true great did it.

Paulw

RIP.

He was always the voice of rugby. He'll be sadly missed.

Mossy Monk

Always was such a pleasure to hear him commentate. RIP

NotWormBoy

Definitely a voice with a lot of memories attached to it, for everyone. Just hearing him brings you back.

Iang87

what a legend he's been missed since he retired.

No classic match is worth watching unless he commentates, a legend and from what i've read a gentleman. RIP

anonymous_joe

Aw no. That man was such a good commentator.

RIP.

mike65

They'll be weeping in the streets of Hawick.

The voice of rugby union.

ScrubsfanChris

http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055804479

LostinBlanch

No more argy bargy!

RIP

toomevara

Dhera feck, that sucks.....no more 'romping around like mad giraffes' or ,memorably, of Eric Elwood once after missing a kick..."like kicking three bags of haggis around"....

Wreck

Absolute legend, the defining voice of rugby for me and one of the best commentators (on any sport) I've ever had the pleasure to listen to.

He’s like a demented ferret up a wee drainpipe

chalkitdown

RIP

redmca

A true legend.
I would fully expect a minute's silence at all HC matches this weekend.

andrewdcs

Such a sad loss, thoughts to his family and friends, a legend of the game and of broadcasting. Was a shame when he retired. All my great early rugby memories have him commentating, the richness and turn of phrase made every movement of the ball a masterpiece.

nerophis

redmca wrote: »

A true legend.
I would fully expect a minute's silence at all HC matches this weekend.

and more importantly at the Six Nations in a couple of weeks.

He had a rare gift that's still missed

omb0wyn5ehpij9

R.I.P.

A true legend

mink_man

is he the guy woth the kinda scottish acdent in the rugby 08 game?

anonymous_joe

No. He was the voice of Jonah Lomu Rugby.

Snickers Man

Best commentator on any sport ever, in my humble opinion.

So many wonderful descriptions, though you need to hear the Scottish accent to get the best of them.

"He's like a mad trout up a burn, this lad" (Simon Geoghegan)

"He can do the 100m in 11 seconds. That's sonic boom for a prop forward, I tell you!" (Christian Califano)

There'll be sadness in the borders tonight.

tughfc

"here it is again now popping out like chocolate bars from a slot machine"
legend!!

Adelante

"Yes, well there was wee bitta jiggery pokery going on in that ruck"

Thanks Bill for the memories
Aye, keep her lit

Peter B

Very sad to hear he passed away. A true legend. Made growing up and watching rugby so entertaining.

He was so knowledgeable. I remember him mentioning how Thomas Castaignède lost a bet in a bar with some mates meaning he had to bleach his hair.

I remember my friends giving out to me for not wanting to listen to the Irish commentary (think it was George Hamilton) when watching 5 nation matches years ago. I always wanted to listen to Bill on BBC

ironingbored

RIP Absolute Legend.



"...they're like cattle trucks in a shunting yard"

"... Mercy me that'll put him in ward 4." "I hope not bill that's the maternity ward!" (Bill Beaumont)

Harpy

RIP sad news..

he really was a legend..

tricky D

Gonna miss that voice.

RIP

Webbs

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/8468749.stm

A nice tribute from the BBC

jpt77

Very sad news. A bit of my youth dies with Bill. What a commentator. 'What a boomer!!!!' is my favourite description of an up and under. RIP

efb

RIP.

pappyodaniel

razorblunt

Sad sad news, the BBC tribute they played was awesome, 6 Nations were never the same after he left. His passion and knowledge for the game was unparalled even commentating on Scottish games never left bias get in the way of what was going on.

damselnat

RIP Bill:( Great BBC tribute, love watching the old matches on TG4 just for his commentary, pure class

[Jackass]

anonymous_joe wrote: »

No. He was the voice of Jonah Lomu Rugby.

I remember it well, absolutely LOVED that game, and remember Lomu was unstoppable and Williams (SA winger not Wales) was uncatchable! I think Stephen Geoghan was in that game too, and he was the only decent Irish player...everytime you get the ball with Ireland, long skip passes as quick as possible and beat 3 or 4 defenders with him every time!! :pac:

Great voice of rugby and the most unique sports commentator for his own style I've ever heard. Made the game even more of a pleasure to watch. He's been sorely missed and it's a sad day for rugby fans everywhere to hear of his passing.

R.I.P.

Cool_CM

RIP
No more "jiggery pokery in the scrum":(

sock puppet

RIP. Before my time really though I've heard himn a few times on rugbai gold.

Cool_CM

anonymous_joe wrote: »

No. He was the voice of Jonah Lomu Rugby

He also did the original EA Sports Rugby with Jamie Salmon. His commentary was the best thing about the game.

Edit: Come to think about it, probably the only good thing about the game

madds

Fondly remember the old 5 Nations back in the early to mid 80s. I get goose bumps now watching old footage & hearing Bill McLaren's descriptive commentary.

R.I.P.

Hermy

RIP Bill
I only really became interested in rugby in the late nineties but I know that voice for as long as I've been watching tv.

Ham'nd'egger

God bless you, Bill. You made rugby special for millions of us the world over.

anonymous_joe

[Jackass] wrote: »

I remember it well, absolutely LOVED that game, and remember Lomu was unstoppable and Williams (SA winger not Wales) was uncatchable! I think Stephen Geoghan was in that game too, and he was the only decent Irish player...everytime you get the ball with Ireland, long skip passes as quick as possible and beat 3 or 4 defenders with him every time!! :pac:

Great voice of rugby and the most unique sports commentator for his own style I've ever heard. Made the game even more of a pleasure to watch. He's been sorely missed and it's a sad day for rugby fans everywhere to hear of his passing.

R.I.P.

Cool_CM wrote: »

He also did the original EA Sports Rugby with Jamie Salmon. His commentary was the best thing about the game.

Edit: Come to think about it, probably the only good thing about the game

In honour of the great man, Jonah Lomu rugby was dragged out, and a tribute was drunk in his honour.

In terms of sporting commentators, none has ever been more indelibly linked with a sport in my mind. The man was a total hero.

Tarakiwa

The man was a total legend.
Our sport will be all the less for his absence.

RIP

bamboozle

Legend, he's never been replaced!
RIP

stackerman

R.I.P Bill
You gave me so many special memories as a kid
Thank you

Persiancowboy

He was often copied by some of the latterday commentators/rugby analysts.....Tony Ward in particular was often using some of McClaren's sayings.

My personal favourite from him concerned Peter Stringer who had just arrived on the International scene. McClaren was commentating on an irish match and after Stringer had darted away from a scrum he said " they say if you can catch him you get granted 3 wishes" .....

and to think for years we had to put up with Fred F**king Cogley!!


RIP

damoz

RIP

pappyodaniel

Mark Robinson tries to replicate the great man's turn of phrase, and week in, week out he makes an absolute T.I.T of himself. McLaren was charming, knowledgeable, modest and likeable, you insticntively knew by listening to him that he loved the game and his retirement from commentating and now his death, is a huge loss to rugby.

Gone but not forgotten.
RIP