Tributes pour in for Bill McLaren

Tributes were paid today to the “voice of rugby” Bill McLaren, who has died at the age of 86.

The legendary commentator, who retired in 2002 after almost 50 years as a broadcaster, died in hospital this morning.

He received an OBE, CBE and MBE for services to the sport and combined his work as a broadcaster with that of a PE teacher until 1987.

There was also an internet campaign last year to give McLaren, from Hawick in the Scottish Borders, a knighthood for his work.

Scotland rugby legend Gavin Hastings, who worked alongside McLaren in the commentary box, led the tributes.

He said: “First and foremost, Bill was a very proud and passionate Scot but such was his professionalism that you would never really have known that.

“He always remained very unbiased in his commentary and I think that that was unquestionably one of his endearing qualities. He was just such a gentleman as well.”

He added: “I will always remember I had the good fortune to be alongside him in the commentary box on a number of occasions.

“One of the times that I will always remember being there, he said ’now son if you want to speak just tug away at my coat’.

“I was keen to say something so I kept tugging away at his coat for what seemed like about five minutes before he allowed me to speak.

“It was just the sort of passion of the man that he got so much into the game and that was just the way he was. He will be sadly missed. He was a wonderful commentator and he just brought the world of rugby into so many people’s homes.”

He added: “He was a wonderful man. He was a real family man.

“He was known as the ’voice of rugby’ and that probably will be his legacy.”