Bill McLaren

William Pollock McLaren (16 October 1923 – 19 January 2010) was a Scottish rugby union commentator and journalist, having been a teacher and rugby player. Known as "the voice of rugby", he retired from commentating in 2002.

Early life McLaren was born in Hawick, Roxburghshire, in 1923, to a knitwear salesman from Loch Lomond-side who had moved down to the area.

As a young boy, he was steeped in local rugby stories:

In his teenage years, McLaren grew up to be a useful flank forward. He would later play for Hawick RFC.

He served with the Royal Artillery in Italy during the Second World War,

He played in a Scotland trial in 1947 and was on the verge of a full international cap before contracting tuberculosis. The disease nearly killed him and forced him to give up playing.

McLaren also featured as a commentator on the video games Jonah Lomu Rugby and EA Rugby 2001, and also did voice work for Telewest Communications.

During his final commentary, Wales v Scotland in 2002, the crowd sang "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow" and one Welsh supporter displayed a banner claiming "Bill McLaren is Welsh". He had particularly endeared himself to his many Welsh admirers with his comment "They will be singing in the valleys tonight"

After retirement, McLaren wrote the book Rugby's Great Heroes and Entertainers in 2003.

In later life, McLaren contracted Alzheimer's; he had been renowned for his excellent memory.

Family McLaren was married to Bette, with whom he had two daughters: Linda (born 1952) married former rugby scrum half Alan Lawson and Janie (born 1954, died 2000) married horse racing commentator Derek Thompson. They had five grandchildren, including Scotland scrum-half and Gloucester player Rory Lawson and Scotland 7s player Jim Thompson.

Death McLaren died on 19 January 2010 at the age of 86 in his home town of Hawick. His funeral took place on 25 January at Teviot Church in Hawick, followed by a private burial at the town's Wellogate Cemetery after his hearse was applauded through the town by hundreds of well-wishers who lined the streets.

On 11 March 2010, thousands of people attended a memorial celebration of Bill McLaren's life held at Murrayfield Stadium in the week leading up to that year's Calcutta Cup match which was played at the stadium.

A statue was unveiled in Wilton Park in Hawick in February 2013 followed in November that year by a bust of McLaren in the main reception area of Murrayfield Stadium. McLaren was named among the inaugural members of the Scottish Rugby Hall of Fame in 2010 and inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame during Rugby World Cup 2015.

Bill McLaren Foundation The Bill McLaren Foundation, a charity which exists to develop and promote rugby union and sporting opportunities, was launched at Murrayfield Stadium on 4 March 2010.