Voice of rugby Bill McLaren dies aged 86
LEGENDARY BBC commentator Bill McLaren, dubbed the “voice of rugby”, has died at the age of 86 in the Scottish Borders.
McLaren, who retired in 2002, was awarded the CBE, OBE and MBE for services to the sport and in 2001 became the first non-player to be inducted into the international rugby hall of fame.
The Scot, who died in the Hawick community hospital yesterday morning, began his career in radio in 1953.
He then followed BBC colleagues David Coleman, Dan Maskell and Peter Alliss onto television, where he enjoyed a celebrated career before retiring in 2002.