Willie John McBride

William James McBride, better known as Willie John McBride (born 6 June 1940), is a former rugby union footballer from Northern Ireland who played as a lock for Ireland and the British and Irish Lions. He made 63 appearances for Ireland, including eleven as captain, and toured with the Lions five times; a record that earned him 17 Lions Test caps and 71 appearances in the red jersey. He also captained one of the most successful Lions sides, which returned undefeated from South Africa in 1974. McBride, inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame in 2009, is regarded as one of the most influential figures ever to play the game.

McBride is opposed to the use of a 23-man bench, "absolute nonsense" he considers unfair and increasing the risk of injury.

Youth McBride was born in Moneyglass near Toomebridge, County Antrim, one of four boys; one died at a young age in a drowning accident. Owing to his father's death when he was four years old, he spent most of his spare time helping out on his family farm. Because of his commitments on the farm, he did not start playing rugby until he was 17. He was educated at Ballymena Academy and played for the school's First XV and the Ulster Schools' team. After he left he joined Ballymena and was playing for the first team within a year. McBride was primarily into athletics at school, winning the Ulster School pole-vault championship in 1956 and 1957. Willie John McBride instigated a policy of "one in, all in": that is, when one Lion retaliated, all other Lions were expected to join in the melee or hit the nearest Springbok.

At that time there were only substitutions if a doctor agreed that a player was physically unable to continue and there were no video cameras and sideline officials to keep the punching, kicking and head butting to a minimum. If the South Africans were to resort to foul play then the Lions decided "to get their retaliation in first." The signal for this was to call "99" (a shortened version of the emergency number in Ireland and in the United Kingdom: 999). This was a signal for the Lions to clobber their nearest rival players.

Retirement In 1975 as his international career was ending he played his last game for Ireland at Lansdowne Road. The game was against France, and near the end of the match he scored his first test try. It was the crowning moment of a great playing career. His last international game was against Wales on Saturday 15 March 1975. McBride played 63 times for Ireland, won 17 Lions Test caps and wore the Lions jersey 71 times.

McBride was awarded a CBE in the 2019 New Year Honours list for services to Rugby Union.