Bill McLaren, the voice of rugby himself, passed away this morning aged 86. He worked as a national broadcaster for nearly 50 years until his retirement in 2002 and he received an OBE, a CBE and an MBE for his services to the sport. Sport.co.uk respectfully looks back at some of his greatest utterances…
1. “He’s like a demented ferret up a wee drainpipe.”
2. “Would ye like a Hawick ball, son?” (when offering a mint to a friend)
3. “He’s as quick as a trout up a burn.”
4. “I’m no hod carrier but I’d be laying bricks if he was running at me.” (Referring to Jonah Lomu)
5. “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.”
6. “He plays like a runaway bullet.” (Referring to New Zealand wing Grant Batty)
7. “It’s high enough, it’s long enough AND IT’S STRAIGHT ENOUGH!!!”
8. “He kicked that ball like it were 3 pounds o’ haggis.”
9. “The All Blacks that day looked like great prophets of doom.”
10. “I’ve hardly ever had to pay to get in.” (When asked what the best thing was about being a rugby commentator for 50 years)
Bill McLaren RIP