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.
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.
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
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 👍
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! ☘️
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
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.
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.
well done xx
Great rugby player. Greater leader. So much respect. ☮️😀
What a bore Hain was, and is. Bravo WJMB!
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.
God bless you big man.
Greetings from South Africa. What a giant of the game. ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Fabulous Man!
Magnificent! Thank-you! 99 ha, ha!
Lovely tribute programme to a great man. Lovely to see Mike Gibson, Gareth Edwards, Roger Uttley , Hannes Marais... ......and God rest you, JPR.
We love and respect Willie John Mcbride here in Wales. A giant in more ways than one.
Still looks the same as 50 years ago......❤
Loved it!
What a fucking man 🇮🇪🍀☘️
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.
Wales and Scotland should have travelled to Dublin.
Was there any discussions about holding the game at an alternative venue at the time?
Thank you from a Kiwi .
so Edwards went to S Africa but not N Irelad....no sense there
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
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 👍
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! ☘️
Wow what an incredible story.
He went to the same academy as Syd Millar.
Im in awe.
My. Boy....
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
Even the great Colin Meads backed down to wllie
What a man.
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william james mcbride and michael sean o coileain (michael collins) are the two greatest men in irish history
What an inspiration they broke the mould when they made him
I am so nostalgic recalling those days.
Met John during the lion's tour at Kings park Durban,one of the greatest rugby players,but most of all,humble and a true gentleman
For me if a greatest rugby team of all time was chosen and Willie John's name wasn't there it would mean nothing
What phil bennett said to his teammates after the punch up I hammered the ball boy classic
Now that's what you call a documentary.
What an absolute legend of a human. I wish you were English. But I'm delighted you were Irish and a Lion. I can offer no higher compliment.
Such a lovely vignette of a wonderful player, a humble family man and a loyal team player.
99 ....all for one and one for all ! Need I say more ?
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.
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.
Even the prods were loved
An absolute legend of a man, made me cry watching this, God bless you sir..
I agree with you 100% .
A rugby legend.
When Ships were made of wood and men were made of steel!
The last few minutes of the match: ua-cam.com/video/QT0tRjt96nQ/v-deo.html
Will you upload the La Rochelle v Toulouse Final??
What a great man and rugby 🏉 player
was there in NZ, remember the tour so well