It's a shame our politicians dont have the sheer class that this man espoused. My mother loved him and I have learned that her admiration wasn't just for his rugby abilities. Great man. The best man to play rugby for Ireland. A legend.
He's a good friend of my uncle's and I'm so proud of even that connection with him. Listening to him talk here, it's the rhythm, the accent, the pace, the tone, everything of how my uncles talked to each other back in the 60s and 70s, It's a very warm emotional experience listening to them all.
I had the honour of seeing him play at the Border Rugby Union grounds in East London, South Africa, in 1974, I was 11 and seeing WJ McBride, JPR Williams, Phil Bennet, Andy Irvine, Gareth Edwards, Fergus Slattery and Mervyn Davies in action was the ultimate - they were unbeaten ... best Lions side ever.
I grew up watching some of the Irish greats, Phil Matthews, Willie John McBride, Phil Orr, Ciaran Fitzgerald, Donal Lenihan and Fergus Slattery to name a few. Willie John and Phil Matthews especially, greetings from Scotland 👍
It is inspiring, even in my advanced age, to see a man, who has achieved such fame and worldwide respect, of such humility, one of the 'greats' of rugby, banker yes, but a man of the soil at heart.
That was awesome, Willie John, what a great man, I remember him from the 1971 tour here, I was just a kid at the time but you couldn't help notice the big fulla with that white head band, but I did manage to say hello to Delme Thomas in Hawks bay, haha one of hundreds of kids ngaa mihi e hoa. Willie John naa Aotearoa....greetings our friend Willie John from New Zealand....Irish and lion man.
Thank you for sharing this on RU-vid!! This man, Willie-John McBride is I'm very proud to say, a relative of mine. His Grandmother, Sarah Catherine (nee McIntyre) was the elder sister of my Gt Grandfather, so making Willie-John's father, William James McBride (whom Willie John is named after), my Grandfather's 1st cousin. I had the privilege of meeting him In Palmerston North during the Irish-Lions tour of NZ. I was his breakfast waitress ( during holidays) at the hotel Willie-John and the team were staying at. I near dropped his breakfast, because at that time, he was the image of my Grandfather!
I'm a Proud Welshman, with a Paternal Englishmen. I, remember getting up,with My Late Father, to listen to the radio for The Four Tests, in New Zealand on The 1971 Tour. Not,even The Late Also great Sir Colin ( Pinetree) Meads, could intimidate This Ulsterman! Legend, of The Game of Rugby. Respected throughout The World of Rugby Union. Without, any Peers! .
Respect to you colyn barrett. As a young child I also listened and watched those games on New Zealand radio and TV. I agree that Meads and Willie John were the premier locks of their time but you are right .. Willie John was number one.
A good film about a true sporting hero. I had the privilege of meeting the great man and at a dinner where he also proved to be a gentleman and a first class orator.
Mr Wullie john McBride, I could spend the rest of my days listening to your stories you remind of Grannie when lived in Stranraer not to far across the irish sea to larne but you are a pleasure to watch your storys and the lions etc Ireland games you played in And won The legend of Wullie john McBride would be Fitting and his exploits.
I am the same age as willy John and played most of my Rugby in the Royal Marine/RN ,at the time I had two heroes W.J.M secondly Gareth Edwards,quite a few others, but they were Kings.Thanks for the memories.....
The Shackleton of rugby, a larger than life leader. I lived in South Africa during the '74 series which we could only listen to on the radio. As a recently arrived pom I cannot easily explain the pride that this tour gave me in being a white wash unbeaten series. I sometimes wonder how much better we would do if we played all international competitions as a Lions team and not as individual nations. I appreciate that there are players from Eire that would bow out as an independent nation.
Well they don't bow out of a rugby Lions tour because of that, or at least I haven't heard of individuals who have. I wish they wouldn't for other sports if the Lions were available there too.
Greatest Lions skipper there has been! What a man! Character similar to another great Ulster and Irishman Paddy Mayne. Lead from the front and never ask anything or anyone your not prepared to do yourself! ☘️
As a Welshman one of my favourites still playing today is Alun Wyn Jones and his qualities are remarkably similar to WJM. Any budding professional rugby player can do no better than to model their attitude on the amateur Willie John Mcbride
What a leader. I saw him during the 1974 Lions tour of South Africa. You could see in his eyes when jogging onto the field that the Springboks are going to have a hard time... Having the likes of JJ Willams, JPR Williams, Andy Irvrine, Gareth Edwards etc. did no harm!
I'm waiting for someone to make a commercial film of that '71 Lions team. It's a story that needs to be told on film. I would just hope it would be a really good film, not just another sports film, because many have been made, but few have been really good.
As an Aussie W J McBride is still Ireland most famous player to date vut for the 71 & 74 Lions teams Roger Uttley(England)Ian McGeehan(Scotland)JPR Williams(Wales)& WJ McBride(Ireland) as it all about those Sides.
on one Lions tour in South Africa in '74 i believe Gareth Edwards, JPR and Bennett all said they would go through fire for him. a story was going that few S africans were gotten to rough them up. Willie John came up with the '999' call that if anyone got hit they all charged back because the ref couldnt send them all off like. it got shortened to '99'...great story
Ulster people at their best - came through the same training myself and did the milking every morning before going to Ballymena Academy - a mixed experience and the rugby 76 years ago was a very haphazard and very cliquish affair.
Ulster Rugby! Two of the finest. Willie J and Cameron Mike Gibson! The latter being the most complete rugby player there has been via Pinetree Meads. Wales & Scotland are a disgrace for not turning up in the 5N. Calculated decision as they knew they were going to loose.
Mate I didn't know about the bullying shit that you were put through so very sorry that that happened. I know that you are considered a God in my country. Pretty sure you could relocate here anytime and get a pm welcome. That is the asteme you are held in in New Zealand
And did you notice how all the South African players just ran off the pitch after the Third Test in South Africa? Sore losers and bad sportsmen. The honourable players would have shaken hands.
